Parole granted to heroin courier prior to his deportation
In 2015, a judge gave Michael Dozie Chukwu a 10-year prison sentence for picking up a package, destined for Saskatoon from Uganda, containing $1.5 million worth of heroin.
Chukwu had just over seven years remaining on his sentence after receiving credit for time spent on remand. Last month, he was granted full parole on his first eligibility date after serving just over two years in custody. Chukwu is from Nigeria and will be deported to serve the remainder of his heroin trafficking related sentence in that country, according to Canadian law.
The Parole Board of Canada decision, issued last month, cited Chukwu’s desire to work on the family farm as a reason for his release.
The 41-year-old is also considered a low risk to reoffend and has behaved while in custody, the decision states, noting Chukwu has a “limited criminal history.”
That history includes several fraud-related convictions from 2009. In fact, Chukwu was appealing a deportation order as a result of those offences when he picked up a package from a UPS outlet in June 2013. The parcel had previously been intercepted in Germany, where customs officials discovered half a kilogram of heroin.
A controlled delivery was made to Saskatoon and Chukwu was arrested when he arrived at his apartment, drugs in tow. Police also found several fake citizen cards, SIN numbers and driver’s licences. At his parole hearing, Chukwu admitted he was provided with several fake IDs because he had agreed to future drug pickups if the first one was successful.
“This was new information confirming that you offended for financial gain over and above your need to have your car repaired,” the decision states.
Despite that, and the fact that it was not a “spur of the moment decision,” the board concluded Chukwu is not a risk to society and that his release “will contribute to the protection of society by facilitating (his) reintegration into society as a law-abiding citizen.”
Chukwu can only be released into the control of the Canada Border Services Agency, which will carry out the deportation order. He is also required to inform the Parole Board of Canada and Correctional Service of Canada if he plans to return to Canada before his sentence expires.
Parole is considered a continuation of a sentence, served under supervision in the community. Most offenders become eligible to apply for parole for after serving one-third of their sentence.