US citizen carrying cannabis gummies detained in Moscow, charged with narcotics smuggling: Russia media
A U.S. citizen was recently detained at an airport in Moscow for allegedly carrying cannabis gummies. The 28-year-old American was apprehended at Vnukovo Airport on February 7 after a K-9 unit from the Russian Federal Customs Service alerted authorities to something suspicious in his luggage. He had just arrived in Russia from Istanbul.
According to reports from Russian media outlet TASS, a chemical analysis confirmed the presence of narcotic substances from the cannabinoid group in the gummies. The man claimed that his doctor in the U.S. had prescribed the edibles to him. However, he now faces charges of smuggling narcotic drugs into the country, a crime that could result in a prison sentence of five to 10 years.
In a separate incident, Marc Fogel, a U.S. citizen who had been detained in Russia on drug charges four years ago, was recently released in a prisoner exchange. Fogel had been serving a 14-year sentence after being arrested in 2021 for possession of drugs that his family and supporters claimed were medically prescribed marijuana. His release came as part of a swap with Alexander Vinnik, a Russian prisoner held by the U.S. government on cryptocurrency fraud charges.
Fogel’s plane safely touched down in the U.S. on Tuesday night, marking the end of his ordeal in Russian custody. His case is just one of several involving Americans detained in Russia for drug-related offenses. WNBA player Brittney Griner, for example, was released in 2022 after spending eight months in detainment for carrying vape cartridges containing cannabis-derived oils.
These incidents highlight the risks that individuals face when traveling with substances that may be legal in one country but illegal in another. It is essential for travelers to familiarize themselves with the laws and regulations of the countries they visit to avoid inadvertently breaking the law and facing serious consequences.
