Canadian woman sentenced to 11 years for importing cannabis into Nigeria
A 41-year-old Canadian woman, Adrienne Munju, was convicted and sentenced to 11 years in prison on Wednesday, October 23, 2024, by a Federal High Court in Lagos for importing 74 parcels of “Canadian Loud,” a potent strain of synthetic cannabis, weighing 35.20 kilograms into Nigeria.
According to a statement by Femi Babafemi, spokesperson for the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Munju’s conviction followed her arraignment on a two-count charge before Justice Dehinde Dipeolu. She was arrested by the NDLEA at Terminal 1 of Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, on Thursday, October 3, 2024, during the inward clearance of passengers on a KLM flight at the ‘D’ Arrival Hall of the airport.
In her post-arrest statement, Munju confessed that she was recruited to traffic the illicit consignment through an online platform for a payment of 10,000 Canadian dollars upon successful delivery in Lagos. She accepted the offer due to financial pressures, as she needed the funds to pay for her ongoing master’s degree program in Canada.
Justice Dipeolu convicted and sentenced Munju after she pleaded guilty to the charges brought against her by the NDLEA. Prosecuting counsel, Barrister Abu Ibrahim, informed the court that Munju’s actions violated sections 20(1)(a) and 19 of the NDLEA Act, Cap N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and are punishable under Section 20(2)(a) of the same Act.
After her guilty plea, the prosecutor called Assistant Superintendent of Narcotics Angela Mba as a witness. Mba recounted the arrest and presented exhibits, including two suitcases used to conceal the drugs, Munju’s Canadian passport, her confessional statements, laboratory test reports, and samples of the illicit drugs. These exhibits were accepted by the court as evidence.
Following the review of the facts and evidence, Justice Dipeolu sentenced Munju to six years imprisonment on the first count and five years on the second count. The judge, however, gave the option of a fine: N50 million on each count, amounting to a total fine of N100 million.
The charges against Munju read:
“That you, Adrienne Munju, Adult, Female, a Canadian, on or about the 3rd of October, 2024, during the inward clearance of passengers on a KLM flight at the ‘D’ Arrival Hall of Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, without lawful authority, imported 35.20 kilograms of Cannabis Sativa, otherwise known as ‘Canadian Loud,’ thereby committing an offense contrary to Section 20(1)(a) and punishable under Section 20(2)(a) of the NDLEA Act, Cap N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended the NDLEA officers involved in the case and the judiciary for the swift adjudication. He remarked that the conviction serves as a strong warning to foreigners and others contemplating smuggling illicit drugs into Nigeria.