Hopewell Chukwuemeka, a 25-year-old businessman, has been found guilty and sentenced to three years in prison by Justice Daniel Osiagor of the Federal High Court in Lagos, for attempting to smuggle 1.10 kilogrammes of Cannabis Sativa, also known as Marijuana, to Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
After pleading guilty to one count of drug trafficking brought against him by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA)., Chukwuemeka was sentenced by Justice Osiagor.
One of the NDLEA’s prosecutors, Augustine Nwagu, told the judge that on September 9, 2022, the convicted drug trafficker had convinced one Nwogu Samuel Chukwuemeka to help him smuggle drugs into the United Arab Emirates.
Nwagu further stated that the substance was discovered in the convict’s possession during a routine check and clearing of cargo for an Emirate Airline Flight to Dubai at the NAHCO Export Shed at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos.
He also stated that the defendant’s actions violated section 11(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, Cap N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
After hearing the prosecution’s argument and the defendant’s leniency request, Justice Osiagor handed down a three-year prison term.
In place of a prison term, the judge provided the offender with the alternative of paying a fine of N300,000.
If the offender did not file an appeal within the allotted time, he ordered that the drugs be destroyed.