“Customs officials discovered medicine [among] the two-time Olympic basketball champion in america workforce,” the message reads in Russian. “In February 2022, an athlete who flew to Moscow from New York went during the inexperienced hall. The carrier canine of the Sheremetyevo Customs indicated that medicine is also within the carry-on baggage of a US citizen. After scanning the bag, the customs officials spotted vapes. The mavens discovered that the cartridges for them comprise liquid with hash oil.”
The message endured, “A legal case used to be initiated in opposition to a US citizen…[for] smuggling of narcotic medicine in a vital quantity. The punishment underneath this text is imprisonment for a time period of five to ten years. With reference to the American, a measure of restraint within the type of detention used to be selected. Investigations are underway.”
The Phoenix Mercury commented at the subject in a remark to E! Information, which learn, “We’re acutely aware of and are carefully tracking the placement with Brittney Griner in Russia. We stay in consistent touch together with her circle of relatives, her illustration, the WNBA and NBA. We like and give a boost to Brittney and presently our major worry is her protection, bodily and psychological well being, and her secure go back house.”
In a tweet, USA Basketball mentioned it’s “acutely aware of and carefully tracking the felony state of affairs dealing with Brittney Griner in Russia,” including, “Brittney has all the time treated herself with the maximum professionalism right through her lengthy tenure with USA Basketball and her protection and wellbeing are our number one issues.”
Information of Griner’s arrest comes per week after Russia started its invasion of Ukraine, which has escalated tensions between Moscow and the USA.
