A Federal High Court in Lagos has sentenced Adrienne Munju, a 41-year-old Canadian woman, to 11 years imprisonment for importing 35.2 kilograms of “Canadian Loud,” a potent strain of synthetic cannabis, into Nigeria.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) arrested Munju on October 3, 2024, at Murtala Muhammed International Airport during the inward clearance of passengers arriving on a KLM flight.
The court, presided over by Justice Dehinde Dipeolu, convicted Munju after she pleaded guilty to the charges. NDLEA spokesman Femi Babafemi explained that Munju was recruited online and offered $10,000 CAD to traffic the drugs into Lagos. She claimed the money was intended to fund her master’s degree in Canada.
During the trial, NDLEA’s prosecuting counsel, Barrister Abu Ibrahim, presented evidence including Munju’s confession, her Canadian passport, two suitcases used to conceal the drugs, and laboratory analysis reports. Assistant Superintendent of Narcotics Angela Mba testified to Munju’s arrest at the airport. The court admitted all exhibits and reviewed the case before convicting Munju on two counts.
Justice Dipeolu sentenced Munju to six years on the first count and five years on the second, with the option of a N50 million fine for each count, totaling N100 million. The sentencing was seen as a stern warning to foreign and local drug traffickers.
NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd), praised the swift justice, noting that the severe penalty would deter others from attempting to smuggle drugs into Nigeria.
