Latest news with #KalobWayneByers
Fox News
18-02-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
US citizen detained on drug smuggling charges in Russia released ahead of talks between Moscow, Washington
A U.S. citizen arrested in Russia earlier this month on drug smuggling charges has been released from Russian custody. Kalob Wayne Byers, 28, was detained on Feb. 7 at the Vnukovo airport in Moscow after cannabis-laced marmalade was allegedly found in his luggage by customs officials. Byers was traveling from Istanbul with his Russian fiancée, who was also taken into custody. It was not immediately clear whether Byers' fiancée, identified by Russian media as Naida Mambetova, was also released. She was placed in pre-trial detention on the same charges. Russian authorities said Byers had attempted to smuggle a "significant amount" of drugs into the country. He was taken into custody on drug smuggling charges, punishable by up to a decade in prison. Byers, now freed from Russian custody, is staying in the U.S. embassy in Moscow as he awaits a flight home, his parents wrote on social media, according to Russian independent news outlet Meduza. A U.S. official confirmed that Byers was released to the embassy late on Sunday evening, according to The Associated Press. Russia freeing Byers appears to be part of an effort to ease tensions between Moscow and Washington ahead of talks in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday. When asked about Byers, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Monday that Moscow expects "to discuss restoring the entire complex of Russian-American relations" at the Saudi Arabia meeting "so certain events can be viewed in this context." Tensions between the two countries had already begun to soften in recent weeks. Last week, President Donald Trump upended three years of U.S. policy toward Ukraine and Russia, stating that he and Russian President Vladimir Putin had agreed to begin negotiations on ending the war. Americans being arrested in Russia has become increasingly common in recent years, as relations between Moscow and Washington have soured because of Russia's war against Ukraine, which began in February 2022. Some Americans have been released in prisoner exchanges, including Marc Fogel, a teacher from Pennsylvania who was jailed in Russia on drug charges. He was freed last week. Fogel was detained at a Russian airport in August 2021 when traveling to work at a school in Moscow. He was sentenced to 14 years behind bars for possession of drugs, which his family said was medically prescribed marijuana. He was released and flown back to the U.S. earlier this month in an exchange that included returning Alexander Vinnik, a Russian cryptocurrency expert who faced Bitcoin fraud charges in the U.S., to Russia.
Yahoo
15-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
American detained in Russia identified as Kalob Wayne Byers
Kalob Wayne Byers was identified as the American citizen taken into custody in Russia on a drug smuggling charge, according to media reports. The 28-year-old was detained at Moscow's Vnukovo Airport on Feb. 7 after a K-9 with the Russian Federal Customs Service detected something in his luggage, Russia's TASS news agency reported. Byers will remain in custody for 30 days, Reuters reported, citing a statement from the Moscow City Court's Press Office. It released an image Saturday purportedly showing Byers behind bars as he appeared by video link at a court hearing. The U.S. State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment Saturday by Fox News Digital. Ukraine Blames Russia For Drone Attack On Chernobyl's Protective Shell Byers was allegedly carrying cannabis gummies at the time of his detention. Read On The Fox News App He has been charged with smuggling narcotic drugs into the country and could face up to 10 years in prison, TASS reported. Trump's Special Envoy To The Middle East Reveals How The Us Secured Marc Fogel's Release "A chemical analysis revealed the presence of narcotic substances from the cannabinoid group," the customs service reported, according to TASS, adding the man claimed his U.S. doctor had prescribed the gummies. News of Byers' detention comes as Marc Fogel, a U.S. citizen who was detained on drug charges in Russia four years ago, was released on Tuesday in exchange for Russian prisoner Alexander Vinnik, who had been detained by the U.S. government on cryptocurrency fraud charges. Fogel, a history teacher from Pennsylvania, was serving a 14-year prison sentence after his arrest in August 2021 at a Russian airport for being in possession of drugs, which his family and supporters said were medically prescribed marijuana. Fox News' Brie Stimson contributed to this report. Original article source: American detained in Russia identified as Kalob Wayne Byers
Voice of America
15-02-2025
- Politics
- Voice of America
US citizen detained in Russia, accused of drug smuggling
A Moscow court has ordered a U.S. citizen suspected of drug smuggling held in pre-trial detention for 30 days, the Moscow courts press service said Saturday, days after a Moscow-Washington prisoner swap that the White House called a diplomatic thaw and a step toward ending the fighting in Ukraine. The U.S. citizen, whom Saturday's statement named as Kalob Wayne Byers, was detained after airport customs officials found cannabis-laced marmalade in his baggage. Russian police said the 28-year-old American had attempted to smuggle a "significant amount" of drugs into the country, the Interfax agency reported, citing Russia's Federal Customs Service. The agency said the American was detained at Moscow's Vnukovo airport after flying in from Istanbul on February 7. Mash, a Russian Telegram channel with links to the security services, said the U.S. citizen faces up to seven years in prison if convicted. There was no immediate comment from the U.S. State Department. The Washington-Moscow prisoner exchange this month saw Alexander Vinnik, a Russian cryptocurrency expert who faced Bitcoin fraud charges in the United States, returned to Russia in exchange for American Marc Fogel, a teacher from Pennsylvania who was detained in 2021 when traveling to Russia to work at a school. Fogel had been serving a 14-year sentence for having what his family and supporters said was medically prescribed marijuana. President Joe Biden's administration designated Fogel as wrongfully detained in December. President Donald Trump on Wednesday upended three years of U.S. policy toward Ukraine, saying he and Russian leader Vladimir Putin had agreed to begin negotiations on ending the conflict following a lengthy direct phone call.
Fox News
15-02-2025
- Fox News
American detained in Russia identified as Kalob Wayne Byers
Kalob Wayne Byers was identified as the American citizen taken into custody in Russia on a drug smuggling charge, according to media reports. The 28-year-old was detained at Moscow's Vnukovo Airport on Feb. 7 after a K-9 with the Russian Federal Customs Service detected something in his luggage, Russia's TASS news agency reported. Byers will remain in custody for 30 days, Reuters reported, citing a statement from the Moscow City Court's Press Office. It released an image Saturday purportedly showing Byers behind bars as he appeared by video link at a court hearing. The U.S. State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment Saturday by Fox News Digital. Byers was allegedly carrying cannabis gummies at the time of his detention. He has been charged with smuggling narcotic drugs into the country and could face up to 10 years in prison, TASS reported. "A chemical analysis revealed the presence of narcotic substances from the cannabinoid group," the customs service reported, according to TASS, adding the man claimed his U.S. doctor had prescribed the gummies. News of Byers' detention comes as Marc Fogel, a U.S. citizen who was detained on drug charges in Russia four years ago, was released on Tuesday in exchange for Russian prisoner Alexander Vinnik, who had been detained by the U.S. government on cryptocurrency fraud charges. Fogel, a history teacher from Pennsylvania, was serving a 14-year prison sentence after his arrest in August 2021 at a Russian airport for being in possession of drugs, which his family and supporters said were medically prescribed marijuana.
NBC News
15-02-2025
- Politics
- NBC News
Russian court orders US citizen suspected of drug smuggling held in custody
MOSCOW — A Moscow court has ordered a U.S. citizen suspected of drug smuggling held in pre-trial detention for 30 days, the Moscow courts press service said Saturday, days after a Moscow-Washington prisoner swap that the White House called a diplomatic thaw and a step toward ending the fighting in Ukraine. The U.S. citizen, whom Saturday's statement named as Kalob Wayne Byers, was detained after airport customs officials found cannabis-laced marmalade in his baggage. Russian police said the 28-year-old American had attempted to smuggle a 'significant amount' of drugs into the country, the Interfax agency reported, citing Russia's Federal Customs Service. The agency said the American was detained at Moscow's Vnukovo airport after flying in from Istanbul on Feb. 7. Mash, a Russian Telegram channel with links to the security services, said the U.S. citizen faces up to seven years in prison if convicted. There was no immediate comment from the U.S. State Department. The Washington-Moscow prisoner exchange this month saw Alexander Vinnik, a Russian cryptocurrency expert who faced Bitcoin fraud charges in the United States, returned to Russia in exchange for American Marc Fogel, a teacher from Pennsylvania who was detained in 2021 when traveling to Russia to work at a school. Fogel had been serving a 14-year sentence for having what his family and supporters said was medically prescribed marijuana. President Joe Biden's administration designated Fogel as wrongfully detained in December. President Donald Trump Vladimir Putin had agreed to begin negotiations on ending the conflict following a lengthy direct phone call.
