A 45-year-old Nigerian woman appeared before the Brussels Correctional Court on Tuesday for attempting to smuggle 10 kilograms of cocaine into the country in the double bottoms of her suitcases.
The woman arrived at Brussels Airport on 14 September on a flight from Sierra Leone. Customs officers discovered the cocaine hidden in the false bottoms of her luggage.
Authorities also found messages on her smartphone indicating communication with a man she was updating about her trip.
"This is another case of a person being used by a criminal organisation for drug trafficking," stated the public prosecutor. "They are promised many things, but in the end, they pay the price. I request a sentence of 36 months in prison."
However, the defence claimed the woman had been duped by the man.
"My client lives in Germany and takes care of her three children alone. She met a man from Sierra Leone online who claimed he wanted to marry her. He offered to pay for her trip to Sierra Leone so they could meet in person" argued the woman’s lawyer.
"There is no evidence that she knew before her departure that she would be used for drug trafficking. It is possible she thought she was transporting money, diamonds, or something else."
The defence requested a suspended sentence. The court will deliver its verdict on 4 March.
