Report: Greiner detained in Russia for hashish oil

The New York Occasions reported Saturday that NBA participant Britney Greiner is being held in Russia after customs officers stated they discovered hashish oil in her baggage at an airport close to Moscow in February.

Russia’s Federal Customs Service on Saturday claimed that it searched baggage believed to belong to the Griner and located vape cartridges containing cannabis-derived oil – an offense punishable by as much as 10 years in jail. Whereas she didn’t identify Greiner, the Customs Service recognized the arrestee as a US girls’s workforce participant however didn’t specify the date of her arrest.

The Customs Service launched a video of a seemingly 6-foot-9 Greiner operating by means of airport safety.

“We’re conscious of the state of affairs with Britney Griner in Russia and are in shut contact along with her, her authorized consultant in Russia, her household, her workforce, the WNBA and the NBA,” stated Lindsay Kagawa Colas, Griner’s agent at Wasserman Group. ESPN by way of Saturday assertion. “As that is an ongoing authorized matter, we can not remark additional on the specifics of her case however we will verify that whereas we work to return her dwelling, her psychological and bodily well being stays our major concern.”

The State Division issued a Russia “Do Not Journey” Warning on January 23 warning Individuals in opposition to journey to Russia attributable to “the potential for harassment in opposition to US residents, the Embassy’s restricted skill to help US residents in Russia, COVID-19 and associated entry restrictions, terrorism, and harassment by Russian authorities safety officers, and the arbitrary software of home legislation.”

One other “to not journey” warning was issued on Saturday, 9 days after Russia started its army invasion of Ukraine.

The US Embassy in Moscow despatched a safety alert on February 27 stating that “An rising variety of airways are canceling flights to and from Russia, and a number of other international locations have closed their airspace to Russian airways. Americans ought to think about leaving Russia instantly by way of industrial choices.” which continues to be obtainable.

Over the previous week, WNBA gamers from Russia have left the nation within the wake of the invasion of Ukraine. A WNBA spokesperson stated Saturday that, aside from Griner, the entire league gamers who had been competing in Russia or Ukraine this winter are actually out of these international locations.

“We’re conscious of the state of affairs in Russia concerning one among our members, Brittney Grenier. Our best concern is the protection and well-being of BG,” the WNBA Gamers Affiliation stated in an announcement to ESPN on Saturday. “On behalf of The 144, we ship our love and help. We are going to proceed to observe intently and sit up for their return to america.”

Like many WNBA gamers, Griner, 31, performs extensively overseas within the winter months, most just lately in Russia.

“Britney Grenier has the complete help of the WNBA and our important precedence is her speedy and protected return to america,” the league stated in an announcement to ESPN.

Greiner fought 9 seasons with the Phoenix Mercury, who misplaced within the WNBA Finals final October to Chicago. She received a championship with Mercury in 2014 and gold medals with america on the Olympics in 2016 and 2023.

“Britney has all the time handled herself with the utmost professionalism throughout her lengthy tenure with NBA, and her security and well-being have been our major issues,” USA Basketball stated in an announcement.

WNBA’s Mercury stated she is “in fixed contact” with the Griner household, her consultant, and each the WNBA and NBA.

“We love and help Britney and presently our major concern is her security, bodily and psychological well being, and her protected return dwelling,” Mercury stated in an announcement on Saturday.

Longtime girls’s basketball agent Mike Coound advised ESPN on February 27 that gamers in Russia are working urgently to get them out of Russia.

“For me, it is previous my ‘considering’ of leaving,” Kound stated on the time. “I have been on the cellphone with gamers for the previous couple of minutes engaged on organizing flights. It is actually pressing now that there’s a reducing variety of flights departing from Russia, and will probably be troublesome to attain quickly.”