Marvin Watson, a 32-year-old Toronto man, has been sentenced to 16 years in prison for smuggling $13 million worth of cocaine and crystal methamphetamine across the Windsor-Detroit border in March 2023. Watson, who pleaded guilty to five drug-related charges, claimed he was a courier trying to provide for his family. His spouse, Maria Kiguru, also pleaded guilty to laundering proceeds of crime and received house arrest.
Toronto man sentenced to 16 years in prison for smuggling $13M in drugs across Windsor-Detroit border
Windsor
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TL;DR: Key points with love ❤️Marvin Watson, a 32-year-old Toronto man, has been sentenced to 16 years in prison for smuggling $13 million worth of cocaine and crystal methamphetamine across the Windsor-Detroit border in March 2023. Watson, who pleaded guilty to five drug-related charges, claimed he was a courier trying to provide for his family. His spouse, Maria Kiguru, also pleaded guilty to laundering proceeds of crime and received house arrest.
- 1 March 2023: $13 million in drugs found in a transport truck at the Windsor-Detroit border.
- 2 September 2024: Maria Kiguru pleaded guilty to laundering proceeds of crime.
- 3 January 2025: Marvin Watson's sentencing originally scheduled.
- 4 May (current year): Watson's first biological child born.
- 5 Tuesday (July 15, 2025): Marvin Watson sentenced to 16 years in prison.
- Marvin Watson sentenced to 16 years in prison (reduced to 14 years and five months with pre-trial credit)
- Maria Kiguru sentenced to two years less a day house arrest
- Removal of $13 million worth of drugs from circulation
What: Marvin Watson, a Toronto man, was sentenced to 16 years in prison for smuggling $13 million in cocaine and crystal methamphetamine across the Windsor-Detroit border. He previously pleaded guilty to five drug-related charges. His spouse, Maria Kiguru, was also charged and pleaded guilty to laundering proceeds of crime, receiving a sentence of two years less a day house arrest.
When: Sentencing hearing on Tuesday (July 15, 2025); Drugs found in March 2023; Kiguru pleaded guilty in September 2024; Watson's sentencing originally scheduled for January 2025; Watson's first biological child born in May (current year).
Where: Windsor-Detroit border, Ambassador Bridge, Windsor, Ontario, Canada.
Why: Watson engaged in drug smuggling for profit, stating he was trying to care for his family and got himself into a situation he thought the best way out of was to get arrested.
How: Watson smuggled drugs hidden in a transport truck. Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officers discovered the drugs during secondary inspection. Watson was arrested, pleaded guilty, and was sentenced based on a joint submission from his lawyer and the federal prosecutor.