(Reuters) – A U.S. citizen, musician and former paratrooper has been arrested in Russia for staging a drug smuggling operation, a Moscow court heard on Saturday.
“On June 10, 2023, the Khamovniki District Court in Moscow issued a restraint order against an American citizen,” according to a statement posted on the Telegram messaging app by the Moscow Common Courts. .
“The former paratrooper and musician, accused of running a drug trade involving young people, will remain in custody until August 6, 2023.”
Reuters could not independently verify the information.
Russian news agency Interfax reported that if found guilty, the man faces up to 12 years in prison.
The US State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
(Reporting by Lidia Kelly in Melbourne; Editing by Edmund Klamann)