Man sentenced in Windsor cross-border drug smuggling case says getting arrested was his only way out

Jason Viau · CBC News

· Posted: Jul 15, 2025 2:59 PM EDT | Last Updated: 5 hours ago

A Toronto antheral sentenced on Tuesday for his engagement successful a $36-million cross-border cocaine and meth cognition told Windsor, Ont., tribunal helium needed to get arrested arsenic a mode retired of the transgression activity.

Superior Court Justice Paul Howard sentenced Marvin Watson to 16 years successful prison, which was a joint submission by the Crown and defence. He's acceptable to walk astir 14 years and 5 months down bars aft deducting clip served, crowded jailhouse conditions and strict bail rules.

The 32-year-old expressed remorse portion speaking concisely to the judge.

"I don't privation anybody to deliberation I'm conscionable immoderate money-hungry guy. I conscionable got myself successful a concern and thought the champion mode to get retired was to get arrested," said Watson, who didn't person a anterior transgression record.

His lawyer, Frank Retar, said successful tribunal that the enactment started during the COVID-19 pandemic, erstwhile Watson had a hard clip uncovering work. 

In September, Watson pleaded blameworthy to:

• Importing meth and cocaine.
• Two counts of possession of meth for the intent of trafficking.
• Laundering proceeds of crime.
• Possessing spot obtained by a crime.

In January, Howard allowed the sentencing to beryllium delayed until July due to the fact that Watson was astir to go a first-time dad.

The woman carrying his child, Maria Kiguru, was besides portion of the transgression cause ring. She pleaded blameworthy connected Sept. 6 to laundering proceeds of transgression and was fixed a conditional condemnation of 2 years.

CBSA recovered meth astatine Windsor-Michigan bridge

It each started successful March 2023 erstwhile Canada Border Services Agency officers recovered 300 kg of meth wrong a semi-truck astatine the Ambassador Bridge betwixt Windsor and Detroit.

RCMP began an probe and aboriginal recovered 120 kg of cocaine wrong a van they said Watson was driving. More drugs were recovered astatine a residence.

"There's nary fentanyl. There's nary heroin. There's nary guns oregon weapons of immoderate kind," Retar said successful tribunal connected Tuesday.

Both sides besides agreed that Watson was much than a courier successful the cause operation, but little than a mastermind.

Retar shed immoderate airy successful tribunal connected however Watson got started successful the cause industry, pointing to hard employment opportunities amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Retar said his lawsuit "innocently enough" began successful the "marijuana organisation business."

Loads of cannabis would travel from California and would beryllium pressed successful Watson's home, Retar said.

'Arrested oregon what's the different alternative'

At 1 point, determination was a theft, and Retar said Watson became "indebted" to the idiosyncratic who was giving him direction. Eventually, the cognition evolved successful Watson handling harder drugs, specified arsenic cocaine and meth.

"He was stuck," said Retar. "Arrested oregon what's the different alternative.

"It's a bittersweet commentary erstwhile an accused has to accidental I had to get arrested truthful I would beryllium capable to proceed and hopefully beryllium released from custody and unrecorded my beingness with my family."