Ex-US paratrooper arrested in Russia
A Moscow court has placed a US army veteran in custody on suspicion of drug dealing. Travis Leake has been living in Russia for several years, working as a musician, local media has reported.
On Saturday, TASS news agency quoted the press office of Moscow’s Khamovniki Court, confirming that the American would be kept in pre-trial detention until August 6.
Officials also revealed that Leake’s acquaintance, Valeria Grobanyuk, was arrested earlier in connection with the case.
According to Russia’s REN TV channel, police searched Leake’s apartment earlier this week, and recovered a suspicious-looking substance, scales, as well as ziploc bags.
If found guilty, the US veteran could face up to 12 years in jail.
On his account on Russia’s VK social media platform, Leake describes himself as a singer in a Russian band named ‘Lovi Noch’ (Catch the Night).
The court press office revealed that the man previously served in an airborne unit of the US army.
REN TV alleged that Leake took part in Washington’s military campaign in Iraq.
In February 2022, Russian authorities arrested WNBA star Brittney Griner when cannabis oil was found in her luggage. In August of that year, she was sentenced to nine years in prison.
However, in December she returned home after Washington and Moscow carried out a prisoner swap in Abu Dhabi. In turn, the US released Russian national Viktor Bout, who had been serving a 25-year term on gun-running charges.
