The story sounds familiar: an unnamed American was arrested in Russia for drug possession. The American was arrested in Moscow, Russia on February 7, allegedly for possessing cannabinoids.
According to Russian state-run media, TASS, the Russian Customs Service detained a US citizen aged 28 at Vnukovo Airport near Moscow for possessing cannabis-laced marmalade.
The Russian Customs Service told TASS that on February 7, Vnukovo officers arrested a 28-year-old US citizen for carrying marmalade containing cannabinoids.
The report doesn’t name the man, but it states that authorities opened a criminal investigation against him. He could face up to 10 years of prison and a fine as high as 1 million rubles.
CNN found court records that indicate the authorities filed this case on February 8, according to CNN. On February 10, the US citizen was in court, where a judge confirmed that he had been detained. According to a legal code in the file, the US citizen was accused of “smuggling drugs”.
The details are vague, but TASS (the Russian state-controlled press) reported that he had arrived in Russia via a flight from Turkey.
TASS reported that the US citizen was stopped by customs after he landed in Istanbul on a flight. Inspectors found candy and two plastic jars in a Ziploc bag when a dog Sniffing for drugs named Eureka flagged his bag.
The man said that he was prescribed the items by a US doctor.
TASS reported that customs’ chemical analysis revealed they “contained narcotic compounds of the cannabinoid family.”
The Trump administration has not yet commented on this article. In the last few days, two Americans have been released: Marc Fogel, a teacher from Russia, and an unidentified American who was held by Russia’s vassal country Belarus.
Marc Fogel was arrested for possession of marijuana (medically prescribed). The American detained in Belarus had been charged with participating in a protest.
This all leads to an interesting debate. We are America and should always bring home our citizens, even if they’re accused of possessing illegal drugs. This task is complicated when the American is not a well-known athlete. This is part of a national agreement that the government should have with its citizens: if you are in a foreign country and trouble we will get you out.
This unnamed American, on the other hand, entered Russia with an illegal substance, and it’s a case of “You got into this mess, you get out of it.” International travelers have a responsibility to know and follow the laws in the country(s) they travel to. Other countries also expect the same of travelers to the United States. The report is vague, and it is not clear what the American was accused of carrying. If the amount is indicative of distribution, it could be a new legal angle.
We will update you if and when the situation warrants.