Customs officers at Pulkovo Airport found marijuana in the baggage of a French national who had arrived from London on a transit route via Istanbul. Source: FCS Russia.
In a shoulder bag among personal items, officers found a tobacco grinder containing a greenish-brown substance with a sharp odour, plus three clear zip-lock bags with residues of a similar material.
Forensic testing identified cannabis (marijuana) with a total mass of 0.34 g.
The passenger said he had used the substance for a long time and had brought it “exclusively for personal needs”. He also claimed he often travels internationally with drugs but had not previously faced questions from other countries’ customs authorities.
A 24-year-old foreign national was remanded in custody. A criminal case was opened under Article 229.1(1) of the Russian Criminal Code for smuggling narcotic drugs; the penalty may include up to seven years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to RUB 1 million.
