Brittney Griner was arrested at Moscow airport for possession of cannabis oil. The NBA basketball player currently finds herself in a complicated situation.
Arrested in the middle of Moscow airport for possession of cannabis oil.
According to the New York Times, last February, Russian customs discovered cannabis oil in the Phoenix Mercury star’s electronic cigarette cartridges. The inspection of her hand luggage at Moscow airport confirmed: “the presence of vaporizers and a liquid with a particular smell” indicated the Federal Customs Service of Russia in a press release with a video showing the passage of the security gate of the player. The customs service clarified that it was a dog who discovered this prohibited substance in the cartridges for its electronic cigarette.
The American basketball federation has expressed concern about the information communicated by Moscow concerning Brittney Griner. The WNBA franchise also expressed concern in a statement: “We are attentive and closely monitoring the situation with Brittney Griner in Russia. We remain in constant contact with her family, her agent, the WNBA, and the NBA. We appreciate and support Brittney and at this time our primary concern is her safety, physical and mental health, and her safe return home.”
The basketball player faces up to 10 years in prison.
Placed in custody by the police, a criminal investigation was opened in the process. Brittney Griner faces up to ten years in prison for “transporting drugs”, in the midst of a diplomatic crisis between the two countries around the invasion of Ukraine by Russia. The US government fears that Russia is using Brittney Griner as leverage. “American citizens are not political pawns. Brittney, Trevor, and the other Americans must be returned safe and sound,” Democrat Joaquin Castro tweeted.
According to the WNBA, all the other players in its championship, who played in Ukraine and Russia, have now returned to the United States. Brittney Griner is not the first American citizen to be arrested by Russian police for possession of narcotics. Indeed, the former American diplomat Marc Fogel had been arrested by customs as he arrived at Moscow airport with his wife for possession of marijuana and hashish oil in his luggage.
I will not go to Russia never