Russian authorities have detained an American citizen at Moscow's Vnukovo airport on charges of drug smuggling, Reuters reported, citing information from the Russian online publication Mash.ru on its channel in the Telegram application. The media outlet in turn cited sources from the Russian security services, BTA reports.
The arrest comes days after the release of American teacher Mark Fogle, who was detained in August 2021 in Russia and sentenced to 14 years in prison, Reuters notes. Fogle was arrested at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport with 17 grams of medical marijuana in his luggage.
Fogle was exchanged by Moscow for Russian citizen Alexander Vinnik, who pleaded guilty to money laundering charges in the United States in May last year.
The American citizen currently detained at "Vnukovo" airport is referred to in the information as K. Byers, Reuters reports, adding that he faces up to seven years in prison if convicted.
According to reports, half a kilogram of marijuana was found in his luggage.
"For reasons of confidentiality, we cannot say anything at this stage," a spokesman for the US Embassy in Moscow told Reuters when asked about the case.
Later on Monday, Russia's Federal Customs Service confirmed that a 28-year-old US citizen had been detained after customs officers found marmalade laced with cannabis in his luggage, Interfax news agency reported.
The agency said that Russian police had opened a criminal case against the American for "smuggling of drugs in large quantities".
Reuters recalls that US citizens are periodically detained in Russia because of strict laws on possession of drugs.
Basketball player Brittney Griner, who last year in the French capital Paris became an Olympic champion with the US team, was detained in February 2022 at a Moscow airport for having e-cigarettes containing cannabis oil in her luggage.
Griner had a medical prescription for marijuana from the US, but was sentenced to nine years in prison, spending nearly 10 months in custody. She was released in a prisoner exchange.