Last week’s sentencing of a Toronto mother who used her 12-year-old son as a drug mule reveals troubling dimensions of family-involved narcotics trafficking at Canadian borders.
Justice Michael Quigley handed down a 6-year prison term to Manuela Amza, 37, after she was convicted of using her child to smuggle cocaine into Canada from Aruba in February 2019. Court documents show Amza taped packages containing over 2 kilograms of cocaine directly to her son’s legs beneath his clothing.
“Using a child to smuggle drugs across international borders represents a profound breach of parental duty,” Justice Quigley stated during the sentencing hearing at the Ontario Superior Court. “This isn’t simply about drug importation – it’s about exploiting familial relationships for criminal gain.”
The case began when Canada Border Services Agency officers at Toronto Pearson International Airport noticed the boy walking awkwardly during secondary screening. According to testimony from CBSA officer Ramona Thompson, the child appeared “visibly uncomfortable” and “unable to move normally” after the nine-hour flight.
“When we asked if he was carrying anything, he burst into tears,” Thompson testified. “It was immediately clear this child had been placed in an impossible situation.”
Forensic examination revealed the cocaine had a street value approaching $250,000. Court filings indicate the child had no knowledge of what was taped to his legs, believing instead they were “special packages” his mother needed to bring home.
Dr. Elena Markova, a child psychologist who assessed the boy, testified about the lasting trauma such exploitation typically causes. “When a parent weaponizes the parent-child bond for criminal purposes, the psychological harm extends far beyond the immediate event,” Markova explained. “The child’s fundamental trust in caregivers becomes profoundly damaged.”
Defense attorney James Chen argued for leniency, citing Amza’s financial struggles as a single mother. “Ms. Amza made a terrible decision while facing eviction and mounting debts,” Chen told the court. “She deeply regrets involving her son in what she saw as her only financial lifeline.”
Police investigation uncovered text messages linking Amza to a larger smuggling network. Detective Sergeant William Garcia from Toronto Police Service’s organized crime unit revealed that Amza had been recruited specifically because traveling with a child often receives less scrutiny at borders.
“Family units are increasingly utilized by trafficking organizations,” Garcia explained in his testimony. “Border agents naturally hesitate to subject families, especially those with children, to intensive screening.”
The Crown prosecutor, Alyssa Jensen, pushed for a 9-year sentence, arguing the case represented an egregious form of child endangerment. “Beyond the drug importation itself, the defendant knowingly exposed her child to serious legal and physical danger,” Jensen stated. “Had the packages ruptured during the flight, the toxic contents could have caused severe medical consequences.”
Children’s Aid Society intervened immediately following Amza’s arrest. The boy now lives with his maternal grandmother under supervision, according to court documents. His ongoing therapy addresses both the traumatic smuggling incident and the subsequent separation from his mother.
Criminal defense specialist Marica Devlin, who wasn’t involved in the case, notes that sentences involving parent-child drug smuggling typically exceed standard trafficking penalties. “The courts view exploiting one’s child as an extraordinary aggravating factor,” Devlin explained. “While typical first-time smuggling might see 3-5 year sentences, involving minors pushes penalties substantially higher.”
Border security experts point to an alarming increase in cases where children are unwittingly used as drug mules. Canadian Border Services Agency data obtained through freedom of information requests
