An American citizen found himself in legal trouble in Russia when airport security discovered cannabis gummies in his luggage. The 28-year-old man, arriving from Istanbul, was apprehended at Moscow’s Vnukovo International Airport on Feb. 7 after a sniffer dog detected the illegal substance.
Legal Battle and Charges
The unnamed individual claimed he had a valid prescription for the gummies from a U.S. doctor. However, he was arrested on drug smuggling charges and could face a prison term of five to 10 years along with a hefty fine of 1 million roubles (approximately $11,000).
Previous Incidents
This case is not isolated, as the Kremlin has previously detained Americans on cannabis-related charges. In 2022, basketball star Brittney Griner was arrested for possessing a vape with marijuana oil and was sentenced to nine years in prison. She was later released in a high-profile prisoner exchange involving Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout.
In a similar incident in 2021, schoolteacher Marc Fogel was arrested for carrying medical marijuana and received a 14-year sentence. He too was released in a swap, this time for a Russian cybercriminal.
International Tensions
The U.S. government has criticized Russia for what it perceives as wrongful detentions of American citizens. Western authorities have accused Moscow of using foreigners as bargaining tools in exchange for Russian prisoners. Currently, several Americans remain incarcerated in Russian jails.
A spokesperson from the U.S. State Department acknowledged the situation involving the detained American citizen in Russia and stated that they are closely monitoring developments.