After the release of Marc Fogel: Russia arrests US citizens

Shortly after an American release

Alleged drug smuggling: US citizens arrested in Russia

A US citizen was arrested in Moscow for drug smuggling, only days after someone else’s release. Cannabis were supposedly found with him.

A 28-year-old US citizen was arrested in Moscow for alleged drug smuggling. Russian customs officials discovered jam offset with cannabis in his luggage, the Interfax news agency reported, citing the Russian customs authority.

According to a report by Reuters, the Russian authorities have initiated criminal investigations against the man for “drug smuggling to a significant extent”. If he is convicted, he threatens a prison sentence of up to seven years. The Telegram Canal Mash, which is said to have close connections to Russian security services, named the arrested as K. Byers and reported that it was intercepted at Wnukowo Airport on his arrival.

The arrest occurred only a few days after Russia had released the American Marc Fogel. Fogel, a teacher, was sentenced to 14 years in prison for the smuggling of medical marijuana. His release was part of an exchange business with the United States, in which Washington, in return, transferred the Russian IT specialist Alexander Winik, who was convicted of money laundering in the USA.

CNN, citing the Russian news agency Tass, reported that the arrest had already taken place on February 7th. The Russian customs authority therefore confirmed that the man had jam jam with cannabinoids. No further details on the identity of the arrested or the circumstances of his entry into Russia are not yet known.