American citizen detained at Moscow airport for carrying cannabis gummies
A U.S. citizen allegedly carrying cannabis gummies has been detained at Vnukovo Airport in Moscow, according to Russian media.
The 28-year-old American was detained on February 7 after a K-9 unit from the Russian Federal Customs Service detected an issue with his luggage, as reported by Russia's TASS news agency.
The individual had entered Russia via Istanbul.
The U.S. State Department confirmed to Fox News Digital that it is aware of reports regarding the detention of a citizen but did not comment further.
The customs service indicated that a chemical analysis confirmed the presence of narcotic substances from the cannabinoid group. The man claimed to have a prescription from his U.S. doctor for the gummies.
He faces charges of smuggling narcotic drugs into Russia, which could lead to a prison sentence ranging from five to ten years, according to TASS.
In a related matter, Marc Fogel, a U.S. citizen previously detained on drug charges in Russia, was released recently in a prisoner exchange. He had been serving a 14-year sentence following his arrest at a Russian airport in 2021 for possession of medically prescribed marijuana.
Fogel's release comes shortly after WNBA player Brittney Griner was freed from her own detainment in Russia for possessing vape cartridges containing cannabis oils.
