Russia stops American citizen for drug possession, days after the exchange of inmates

Russia arrested another American citizen after Customs officials found jam with cannabis in their luggage, Russian media reported on Friday, days after an exchange of prisoners between Moscow and Washington that the White House described as a diplomatic thaw and as a step towards The end of the war in Ukraine.

The Russian police said that the 28 -year -old American tried to smuggle an «important amount» of drugs to the country, the Interfax agency reported, citing the Federal Customs Service of Russia. The agency indicated that the American was arrested at Vnukovo airport in Moscow after arriving from Istanbul last Friday.

Mash, a Russian Telegram channel with links with security services, said the American citizen, identified only as K. Byers, could face up to seven years in prison if he is convicted.

So far, the United States Department of State has not made any comments.

In the exchange of prisoners between Washington and Moscow held this month, Alexander Vinnik, a Russian cryptocurrency expert who faced accusations of fraud with Bitcoin in the United States, returned to Russia after being released in exchange for the American Marc Fogel, a sewing teacher arrested In 2021 when he traveled to Russia to work in a school.

Fogel purged a 14 -year sentence for possession of what, according to his family and his supporters, was medically prescribed marijuana. The government of President Joe Biden appointed Fogel as unfairly detained in December.

On Wednesday, President Donald Trump altered three years of the United States policy towards Ukraine when he said, after a long direct phone call, that he and Russian leader Vladimir Putin agreed to start negotiations to end the conflict.

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