A 28-year-old U.S. citizen has been apprehended at Moscow's Vnukovo Airport after allegedly being found with cannabis gummies. Russian authorities reported the detention, which occurred on February 7th, stating that a drug-sniffing dog alerted customs officials to the presence of the gummies in the individual's luggage. The American had flown into Moscow from Istanbul.

Following a chemical analysis confirming the presence of cannabis-derived substances, Russian authorities charged the individual with drug smuggling, a crime that carries a potential prison sentence of five to ten years. The detainee reportedly claimed the gummies were prescribed by a doctor in the United States. The U.S. State Department acknowledged awareness of the situation but declined further comment.

This incident follows the recent release of Marc Fogel, an American teacher who spent four years imprisoned in Russia on drug charges. Fogel's release involved a prisoner exchange for Alexander Vinnik, a Russian national held in the U.S. on cryptocurrency fraud charges.

Fogel's case, along with the high-profile detention and subsequent release of WNBA star Brittney Griner in 2022 for possessing cannabis-derived vape cartridges, highlights the stringent drug laws and potential risks for Americans traveling to Russia with substances, even those legally obtained elsewhere.