Two men charged for allegedly recruiting women for cannabis smuggling operation

Two men have been arrested in connection with a drug smuggling operation which used online classified ads to recruit women to carry out the scheme through Toronto Pearson International Airport.

Detectives say the investigation began after two Canadian women were arrested in Nigeria for attempting to transport cannabis into the country.

They had allegedly been recruited through ads posted on the classifieds website “LeoList”, targeting women aged 20 to 65.

Officers say the ads promised up to $20,000 in exchange for travelling in and out of Canada while carrying illicit drugs.

Following a nine-month investigation, Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officers were able to disrupt the operation before an additional illicit shipment of 29 kilograms of cannabis could leave Canada.

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RCMP Federal Policing – Central Region, Toronto Airport Detachment has charged Charles Adewoye, 48, of Toronto with the following offences:

• Exportation of Cannabis.
• Conspiracy to Commit an Indictable Offence.

Shamaarke Jafar Ismail , 25, of the United Kingdom is also facing the following charges:

• Possession of Cannabis for the Purpose of Exporting.
• Conspiracy to Commit an Indictable Offense.
• Resisting or Obstructing a Peace Officer.

Adewoye and Ismail were released on bail and will appear in court on Jan. 16, 2026.

The RCMP and CBSA are urging the public to exercise caution when responding to online ads for job offers that promise large sums of money with little explanation and require international travel.

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