(NewsNation) — A United States citizen was detained earlier this month at Vnukovo Airport in Moscow for carrying cannabis marmalade in his luggage, according to Russian state media outlet TASS.
A statement to TASS from the Russian Federal Customs Service says the citizen, who was not named, arrived from Istanbul on Feb. 7. During customs control, a law enforcement dog sniffed his suitcase, and officers inspected it.
They discovered two plastic jars and one pack with gummies, which had cannabinoids in them, a chemical analysis showed, according to the Russian Federal Customs Service.
The cannabis had been prescribed by a doctor, the man said. He was taken into custody and now faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of a million rubles, or about $11,000.
In a statement to NewsNation, a State Department spokesperson said the agency is aware of reports of a United States citizen detained in Russia.
“In all cases when a U.S. citizen is arrested abroad, the Department monitors the case closely and provides consular assistance,” the spokesperson said. “Due to privacy considerations, we have no further comment.”
Other American detainees
The U.S. citizen’s arrest comes on the heels of the release of American Marc Fogel, who had also been detained by Russia. Fogel, a teacher, has been sentenced to 14 years in a Russian prison for possession of medical marijuana.
“I think my 95-year-old mother is probably the most dynamic 95-year-old on Earth right now,” Fogel said Tuesday. “And I am so indebted to so many people.”
A Trump administration official confirmed to NewsNation on Wednesday that the United States is releasing Alexander Vinnik as part of the exchange.
Vinnik is a Russian national who used to operate BTC-e, one of the world’s largest virtual currency exchanges, until it was shut down in 2017. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering last year.
Last year, retired U.S. Marine Paul Whelan and Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich were released into U.S. custody after spending 16 months and more than 5 1/2 years, respectively, in Russia.
WNBA player Brittney Griner is another American formerly in a Russian prison. She was detained in February 2022 at a Moscow airport after a search of her luggage revealed vape cartridges containing oil derived from cannabis.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
