A 28-year-old American citizen has been detained at Moscow’s Vnukovo Airport after customs officials reportedly discovered cannabis gummies in his luggage. The incident occurred on February 7, when a K-9 unit from the Russian Federal Customs Service detected the presence of a suspicious substance. The individual had arrived in Russia from Istanbul.
According to reports from Russian media, the customs service conducted a chemical analysis that confirmed the presence of narcotic substances from the cannabinoid group. The man claimed that the gummies had been prescribed by a doctor in the United States. He now faces serious charges of smuggling narcotic drugs into Russia, which could result in a prison sentence ranging from five to ten years.
The U.S. State Department has acknowledged awareness of the situation but has not provided further comments. This incident comes in the context of heightened tensions between the United States and Russia, particularly regarding issues of drug enforcement and international travel.
In a related development, Marc Fogel, another American citizen who had been imprisoned in Russia on drug charges, was released recently in a prisoner exchange. Fogel had been serving a 14-year sentence after being arrested in 2021 for possessing drugs that his family claimed were medically prescribed marijuana. His release was part of a deal involving Russian prisoner Alexander Vinnik, who had faced charges in the U.S. for cryptocurrency fraud.
This latest detention underscores the ongoing risks faced by American travelers in Russia, especially in light of the country’s strict drug laws. The case also reflects broader concerns about the treatment of U.S. citizens abroad, particularly in nations with tense diplomatic relations with the United States.