WA 38-year-old German was detained at St. Petersburg International Airport for possessing cannabis gummy bears. As Russian customs announced on Tuesday, a plastic bag with the words “Fink Green Goldbears” and a picture of a cannabis plant was discovered in the man's luggage. The package contained six cannabis gummy bears with a total weight of 20 grams. According to Russia's harsh drug laws, the German faces up to seven years in prison.
According to customs, a rapid test confirmed the presence of the substance tetrahydrocannabinol. Since it is a narcotic substance, it is prohibited to transport it across the border, it was said. The 38-year-old flew from Hamburg to St. Petersburg via Istanbul. According to authorities, he wanted to meet a woman he met online and travel through Russia.
“The passenger explained that at the end of last year he bought 10 gummies containing marijuana from a specialty store in his home country,” the agency said. That's why he ate them on long flights “for restful sleep.” He stated that he had no problems with other customs authorities before.
In February 2022, US basketball player Brittney Griner, who also plays in Russia, was detained at Moscow airport after a small amount of e-cigarette cartridges containing hemp oil were found in her luggage. Six months later, the then 32-year-old man was sentenced to nine years in prison for drug smuggling. In late 2022, after months of imprisonment, Griner was released in exchange for a Russian arms dealer imprisoned in the United States.