Chinese Woman Sentenced to Two Years for Drug Trafficking

Ting Hong Kiong, a 60-year-old Chinese woman, was convicted and sentenced to two years’ imprisonment by Justice Musa Kakaki of the Federal High Court in Lagos for unlawfully importing 31 kilogrammes of Cannabis sativa into Nigeria. Kiong pleaded guilty to a one-count charge of drug trafficking presented by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

She was arrested on 17 May 2026 at Murtala Muhammed International Airport during the clearance of passengers from an Emirates Airlines flight from Bangkok, Thailand, via Dubai. The prosecutor, Cyril Osaigbo, provided evidence of the cannabis found in Kiong's possession, leading to her conviction.

Despite a plea for leniency from her defense counsel, Chief Benson Ndakara, who argued that Kiong was a victim of circumstances and had shown remorse, Justice Kakaki emphasized the seriousness of drug trafficking and its societal impact, resulting in the two-year sentence effective from her arrest date.