October 06, 2024
By Samuel Ogunsona
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 41-year-old Canadian woman, Adrienne Munju, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos for importing a large consignment of synthetic cannabis, valued at N9 billion.
The arrest occurred on Thursday, October 3, 2024, during the inward clearance of passengers on KLM airline flight from Canada at Terminal 1. Adrienne, who was visiting Nigeria for the first time, was found with 74 parcels of the illicit substance, weighing 35.20 kilograms, stuffed in two of her three bags.
According to Femi Babafemi, NDLEA Director of Media & Advocacy, the seized substance, known as ‘Canadian Loud’, is a strong strain of synthetic cannabis.
The drugs originated from India and were transported through Canada.
It said, “In her statement, she claimed she was recruited to traffic the consignment through an online platform for 10,000 Canadian dollars upon successful delivery in Lagos. She said she took the offer because she needed the money to pay for her ongoing master’s degree programme in Canada.
“In the same vein, NDLEA operatives at the Port Harcourt Ports, Onne, Rivers state have intercepted Thirteen Million Two Hundred and Ninety Eight Thousand (13,298,000) pills of opioids including Tramadol, Tramaking Quick Action Tramadol, Tamol-X, Royal Tapentadol and Carisoprodol as well as three hundred and thirty-eight thousand two hundred and fifty three (338, 253) bottles of codeine based cough syrup, all worth over nine billion seventeen million seven hundred and seventy one thousand naira (N9,017, 771,000) in street value.
“The opioids were recovered in three containers coming from India, targeted by the NDLEA during a 100% joint examination of the cargoes with men of the Nigerian Customs and other port stakeholders on Wednesday, 2nd and Thursday, 3rd October 2024.”
The NDLEA’s swift action has prevented the distribution of these harmful substances in Nigeria, potentially saving countless lives.
The agency’s continued efforts to combat drug trafficking and protect the nation’s citizens are commendable.
Adrienne Munju’s arrest and the subsequent seizure of the illicit drugs mark a significant victory in Nigeria’s fight against drug trafficking.
Further investigation into this international narcotics network is ongoing.
