According to Basketfall news, WNBA All-Star Brittney Griner was arrested in Russia last month at a Moscow airport after vape cartridges were found in one of her luggage during the search.
The Russian Customs Service on Saturday said that the cartridges contained oil derived from cannabis, which could carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. The customs service identified the person arrested as a player for the U.S. women’s team – Brittney Griner and did not particularly disclose the date of her arrest.
It was revealed by the Russian media that the player was Griner, and her agent did not dispute those reports.
“We are aware of the situation with Brittney Griner in Russia and are in close contact with her, her legal representation in Russia, her family, her teams, and the WNBA and NBA,” Griner’s agent Lindsay Kagawa Colas said on Saturday. “As this is an ongoing legal matter, we are not able to comment further on the specifics of her case but can confirm that as we work to get her home, her mental and physical health remain our primary concern.” She continued.
Recall that Brittney Griner plays for the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, and has played in Russia for the last seven years in the winter, earning over $1 million per season — more than quadruple her WNBA salary. She last played for her Russian team UMMC Ekaterinburg on January 29 before the league took a two-week break in early February for the FIBA World Cup qualifying tournaments.
