In a stern warning to international drug traffickers, a Nigerian court has sentenced a Canadian woman, Adrienne Munju to 11 years in prison for importing cannabis into the country, highlighting Nigeria’s zero-tolerance stance on illicit drug trade.

In a recent court ruling, a 41-year-old Canadian woman named Adrienne Munju was found guilty and sentenced to 11 years in prison. The ruling took place on Wednesday, October 23, 2024, at a Federal High Court in Lagos. The charges against her involved the importation of 74 parcels of “Canadian Loud,” a potent strain of synthetic cannabis weighing 35.20 kilograms into Nigeria.

Femi Babafemi, spokesperson for the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), stated that Munju was convicted after being charged with two counts 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. The arrest took place 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 of N50 million on each count, amounting to a total fine of N100 million.

The allegations levelled against Munju are as follows:

“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 and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), praised the NDLEA officers and the judiciary for quickly handling the case. He noted that the conviction sends a clear message to foreigners and others considering smuggling illegal drugs into Nigeria.