U.S. citizen Caleb Wayne Byers, 28, was arrested Friday at Moscow’s Vnukovo Airport after Russian authorities discovered cannabis-infused candies in his luggage. The arrest, first reported by Russian media, comes less than a week after a high-profile prisoner exchange between Moscow and Washington and a phone call between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin.
The Russian judiciary released a video on Telegram showing Byers—bearded, dressed in a white shirt—behind bars. Russian media, using a transliteration from Cyrillic, identified him as Caleb Wayne Byers, though official confirmation of the spelling is pending.
According to the state agency TASS, a drug-sniffing dog flagged Byers’ bag during a routine check. Inspectors discovered two plastic jars and a pouch containing cannabinoid-based sweets. Byers claimed the candies were medically prescribed in the U.S. for travel use.
The case evokes comparisons to previous arrests: WNBA star Brittney Griner, detained in 2022 for carrying prescribed cannabis oil, was later traded for arms dealer Viktor Bout. Similarly, teacher Marc Fogel, jailed in 2021 for possessing medical marijuana, was swapped last Tuesday for Russian cybercriminal Aleksandr Vinnik.
At least nine other U.S. citizens remain in Russian custody:
- James Vincent Wilgus: Musician, imprisoned since 2016, serving 12.5 years for alleged misconduct.
- Thomas Stwalley: Detained in 2018 for marijuana distribution, sentenced to 11 years.
- Eugene Spector: Businessman convicted of espionage in 2024 after a prior corruption sentence.
- David Barnes: Jailed in 2022 amid disputed abuse allegations linked to a custody battle.
- Robert Gilman: Ex-Marine, sentenced to over 10 years for assaulting a guard and a police officer.
- Michael Travis Leake: Music producer, serving 14 years for alleged drug distribution.
- Robert Romanov Woodland: Adopted from Russia, jailed for 12.5 years on drug charges.
- Ksenia Karelina: Dual citizen, sentenced to 12 years for treason over a $50 donation to a Ukrainian NGO.
- Gordon Black: U.S. Army sergeant, imprisoned for theft and threats during an unauthorized visit to Russia.
