US basketball star and Olympic gold medalist, Brittney Griner has been freed in a prisoner-swap and is now in US custody.
Russia agreed to swap her for its citizen, Viktor Bout, an infamous arms dealer nicknamed “Merchant of Death”.
The two-time Olympic gold medalist and all-star center for the Phoenix Mercury of the WNBA was held in February after customs officers at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport allegedly discovered vape cartridges containing cannabis oil in her luggage.
Griner confirmed having the canisters in her suitcase at trial, but she claimed she packed them accidentally while rushing to catch her trip and had no malicious intent.
In written remarks, her defense team claimed that she had received a cannabis prescription to relieve chronic pain.
She was found guilty in August and given a nine-year prison term.
Viktor was caught in elaborate 2008 DEA sting operation in Thailand. He was convicted on terrorism charges and was sentenced to 25 years in prison.
He is a former Soviet military translator whose clients included warlords, rogue states in Africa, Asia, South America.
Source: The Independent Ghana