A Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, has sentenced two Brazilians to fifteen years imprisonment each for unlawful importation of 23.865kg of cocaine through the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos.
The convicts were, however, given N20 million option of fine by Justice C.M.A. Olatoregun.
The convicts, who claimed to be tourists, had earlier pleaded guilty to a one-count charge of importation of cocaine without lawful authority.
Officers of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency had apprehended the Brazilians, following the discovery of canned cocaine in their luggage during the inward screening of passengers on an Emirates flight.
Dias Dos Santos Marcia Cristina, 36, was found with 9.400kg of cocaine in her bag while Lima Pereira Erick Diego, 20, was found with 14.465kg of cocaine in his bag.
The canned cocaine was found inside their luggage containing personal effects.
The total weight of the seized cocaine is 23.865kg with an estimated street value of ₦310 million.
In his plea, the defence counsel, Mr. Onifade, begged the court to temper justice with mercy because the convicts were young and ignorant of the fact that they were carrying cocaine, adding that they were first offenders.
In response, the prosecuting counsel, Ibrahim Abu, argued that the drug trafficking was strict a liability offence and prayed the court to apply the punishment as stipulated by the NDLEA Act.
Justice Olatoregun, after due consideration of both arguments, said that there was need to punish drug traffickers severely to send a serious warning to those who think they could import narcotic drugs into the country in a bid to enrich themselves.
She therefore sentenced the Brazilians to 15 years imprisonment or a fine of N20 million each.
NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Col. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah (retd.) also lent his weight behind any stringent punishment that would prevent people from engaging in drug trafficking.
