A 41-year-old Canadian woman, Adrienne Munju, has been sentenced to 11 years in prison for importing 74 parcels of “Canadian Loud,” a potent strain of synthetic cannabis weighing 35.20 kilograms, into Nigeria.
This conviction, delivered by a Federal High Court in Lagos on October 23, 2024, sends a clear message to drug traffickers, according to NDLEA Chairman Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd).
Munju’s sentencing follows her arraignment on two counts before Justice Dehinde Dipeolu at the Federal High Court in Lagos, after she was arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at Terminal 1 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, on October 3, 2024, during the inward clearance of passengers arriving on a KLM flight.
Upon her arrest, Munju claimed she was recruited to traffic the drugs through an online platform for 10,000 Canadian dollars, a decision motivated by her need for funds to support her ongoing master’s degree program in Canada.
Justice Dipeolu sentenced Munju after she pleaded guilty to the charges brought against her by the NDLEA. Prosecuting Counsel Barrister Abu Ibrahim informed the court that her actions contravened sections 20(1)(a) and 19 of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act (NDLEA) Cap N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, which are punishable under Section 20(2)(a) of the same Act.
Following her guilty plea, the prosecutor presented Assistant Superintendent of Narcotics Angela Mba as a witness, who detailed how the Canadian woman was apprehended with the illicit drugs. Mba submitted several exhibits as evidence, including the suitcases used to conceal the drugs, Munju’s Canadian passport, her confessional statements, laboratory test analysis reports, and samples of the illegal substance. All exhibits were admitted into evidence as Exhibits 1 to 13.
After reviewing the facts of the case, the prosecutor urged the court to convict Munju based on the evidence presented. Consequently, Justice Dipeolu found her guilty. After considering the allocutus presented by the defendant’s counsel, the judge imposed a sentence of six years for count one and five years for count two, totaling 11 years in prison. The judge also provided an option for a N50 million fine on each count, amounting to N100 million in total.
The two counts charged against her stated: “That you, Adrienne Munju, Adult, Female, a Canadian, on or about the 3rd of October, 2024, during the inward clearance of in-bound passengers on KLM flight at the ‘D’ Arrival Hall of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, without lawful authority, imported 35.20 kilograms of Cannabis Sativa, otherwise known as ‘Canadian Loud.’ You thereby committed an act which is an offense contrary to Section 20(1)(a) and punishable under Section 20(2)(a) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act (NDLEA) Cap N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
“That you, Adrienne Munju, Adult, Female, a Canadian, on or about the 3rd of October, 2024, during the inward clearance of in-bound passengers on KLM flight at the ‘D’ Arrival Hall of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, without lawful authority, knowingly possessed 35.20 kilograms of Cannabis Sativa, otherwise known as ‘Canadian Loud.’ You thereby committed an act which is an offense contrary to Section 19 of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act (NDLEA) Cap N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”
In his remarks, Brig. Gen. Marwa praised the officers involved in the arrest and prosecution of Munju, as well as the judiciary for its efficient handling of the case.
He stated that the prompt conviction and significant penalty serve as a stern warning to both foreigners and others considering the importation of illicit drugs into Nigeria.
