China’s top court overturns death sentence for Canadian drug smuggler

China’s Supreme People’s Court has overturned the death sentence of Canadian national Robert Schellenberg, a Canadian official told CBC News.

The court struck down the lower court’s ruling on February 6, according to a source who requested anonymity because they were not authorised to speak publicly, Caliber.Az reports. 

Schellenberg was initially sentenced to 15 years in prison in 2018 after being found guilty of involvement in an international drug-trafficking ring. However, he was retried and sentenced to death in 2019, roughly a month after Canadian authorities detained Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou on a U.S. warrant.

In 2021, a Chinese court in Shenyang rejected Schellenberg’s appeal of his death sentence.

“It will take some time to process this news and the ramifications for Bob’s case. In the meantime, it is obviously very encouraging to see this development. Everyone is hoping for continued good news with a re-trial,” said Anna Marie White, who provided a statement on the family’s behalf.

A spokesperson from Global Affairs Canada confirmed the government “is aware of a decision” regarding Schellenberg’s case but declined to comment on specifics.

“Canada has advocated for clemency in this case, as it does for all Canadians who are sentenced to the death penalty,” the spokesperson said in an emailed statement.

Schellenberg’s case is part of a broader diplomatic strain between Canada and China that began after Meng Wanzhou’s arrest. Following her detention, Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor were held in China on vague national security allegations, though both were released in 2021. A verdict is also expected this week in Spavor’s case.

In 2025, four Canadians were executed in China for drug-related charges.

By Sabina Mammadli