According to state media, a US man was detained in Russia for possessing cannabis candies.
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According to state media, the individual landed at Vnukovo International Airport in Moscow on February 7. (Image of a file) According to Russian state media, an American man is being detained in Russia after airport security found cannabits laced with cannabis in his luggage. After being detained at Moscow's Vnukovo International Airport last week, the 28-year-old man—who is not identified in the reports—is being charged with drug offences. Security discovered two jars and a plastic bag of cannabis goods in one of his bags after a drug-sniffing dog warned them, according to Russian state news outlet Tass. The BBC was informed by the US State Department that it was aware of the reports and was keeping a careful eye on the situation. The Tass report said the man arrived in Moscow from Istanbul on 7 February, and later explained to airport security that the items had been prescribed by an American doctor. He is facing a potential prison term of 5-10 years on drug smuggling charges as well as a fine of one million roubles ($10,880; £8,600), state media reports. US releases Russian Bitcoin fraud suspect Kremlin says Russian released in US after Trump greets freed teacher High stakes, secret talks: How last year's swap deal was struck In recent years, Russia has detained a number of US citizens on drugs charges with some Western officials suggesting the Kremlin is "hoarding" Americans to trade for allies and operatives imprisoned abroad. Prisoner exchanges occurred as recently as this week, when a Russian national jailed in the US on money laundering charges was freed in exchange for American Marc Fogel, who was arrested for cannabis possession in 2021. Mr Fogel, who was also arrested at a Russian airport, was charged with carrying a small amount of medical marijuana and given a 14-year prison sentence. US basketball star Brittney Griner, who was arrested in Russia on a similar charge of cannabis possession in 2022, was freed in an exchange for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout in perhaps the most high-profile case.
The largest prisoner exchange between Russia and the West since the Cold War took place last year, resulting in the release of 24 individuals, including Wall Street Journal writer Evan Gershkovich.
In Russia, at least ten Americans are still incarcerated. These include Robert Woodland, who was adopted from Russia as a youngster and was employed as an English teacher when he was found guilty of narcotics crimes, and Gordon Black, a US army staff sergeant who travelled to Vladivostok to visit his lover before being charged with stealing from her.
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