Court Jails Man Seven Years for Advertising Cannabis Online
A Federal High Court has sentenced a man to seven years imprisonment for using online platforms to advertise and promote the sale of cannabis, reinforcing Nigeria’s crackdown on illicit drug trafficking and cyber-enabled drug crimes.
The conviction followed the successful prosecution of the defendant by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), which presented evidence showing that he used social media and other online platforms to market cannabis to prospective buyers.
The court held that the activities violated Nigeria’s drug control laws, stressing that the internet must not be used as a channel for promoting or facilitating the distribution of prohibited substances.
The trial judge ruled that the prosecution had established its case beyond reasonable doubt and subsequently sentenced the defendant to seven years in prison.
The NDLEA welcomed the judgment, describing it as a strong warning to individuals using digital platforms to advertise or sell illicit drugs.
The agency reiterated that it has strengthened its intelligence and cyber surveillance capabilities to identify and prosecute offenders exploiting social media and other online channels for illegal drug transactions.
Officials urged Nigerians, particularly young people, to stay away from drug-related activities, warning that anyone found promoting or trafficking narcotics through digital platforms would face the full weight of the law.
The conviction forms part of ongoing efforts by law enforcement agencies to combat drug abuse and dismantle criminal networks leveraging technology to expand the illegal drug trade across the country.
