An American citizen, identified as 28-year-old Kalob Wayne Byers, has been detained in Moscow on allegations of drug smuggling. According to reports from Russia's TASS news agency, Byers was apprehended at Vnukovo Airport on February 7th after a drug-sniffing dog with the Russian Federal Customs Service reacted to his luggage. A Moscow court has ordered Byers to be held in custody for 30 days pending further investigation.

An image released by the Moscow City Court’s Press Office purportedly shows Byers appearing via video link during his court hearing. The alleged contraband? Cannabis gummies. Byers reportedly claimed they were prescribed by a doctor in the United States. If convicted, he could face up to a decade in prison under Russian law.

This incident follows the recent prisoner exchange between the U.S. and Russia involving Marc Fogel, an American teacher who had been imprisoned in Russia for four years on drug charges related to medically prescribed marijuana. Fogel was released in exchange for Alexander Vinnik, a Russian national held by the U.S. on cryptocurrency fraud charges.