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Lagos, October 23, 2024 — A Lagos High Court has sentenced a Canadian woman, identified as Jane Doe, to 11 years in prison for smuggling a large quantity of “Canadian Loud” — a highly potent strain of marijuana — into Nigeria. The court found her guilty of attempting to traffic the illegal substance through Lagos’s Murtala Muhammed International Airport.
Ms. Doe was apprehended by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) earlier this year while attempting to enter Nigeria with several kilograms of the illicit drug. Authorities revealed that she was paid $10,000 by an international drug trafficking syndicate to smuggle the substances into the country.
During the trial, it was disclosed that Ms. Doe had been promised safe passage into Nigeria by her handlers but was intercepted due to intelligence gathered by the NDLEA. The prosecutor emphasized the growing concern of international drug smuggling operations targeting Nigeria as a transit route for drugs, particularly cannabis products like “Canadian Loud,” which has seen a rise in popularity due to its potency.
In delivering the sentence, the judge stated that drug smuggling poses a serious threat to the health and safety of citizens and the economy, noting the need for strict enforcement of drug laws to serve as a deterrent.
However, the court also gave Ms. Doe an alternative option: she can pay a fine of ₦100 million (approximately $130,000) in lieu of serving the 11-year prison term. This decision has sparked reactions from the public, with some advocating for harsher penalties to curb the rising wave of drug-related crimes.
The NDLEA has reaffirmed its commitment to cracking down on drug trafficking and has urged the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities.
The case highlights the increasing global dimension of drug trafficking and the ongoing efforts by Nigerian authorities to address this complex issue.
