American musician and ex US paratrooper is arrested in Moscow on suspicion of drug trafficking and faces up to 12 years in jail if convicted
- Travis Leake has been held for two months by a Moscow court in a ‘drugs case’
- The musician and former US paratrooper faces up to 12 years in jail if convicted
An American musician and former US paratrooper has been detained in Moscow in a ‘drugs case’.
Travis Leake, 51, has been held for two months by a court on suspicion of the illegal production, sale or shipment of narcotics on a large scale.
He faces up to 12 years in jail if convicted.
A Russian woman reported him to law enforcement authorities for supplying drugs, according to media reports in Russia.
Leake has lived and worked in Russia for more than a decade.
Travis Leake, 51, has been held for two months by a court on suspicion of the illegal production, sale or shipment of narcotics on a large scale
A Russian woman reported him to law enforcement authorities for supplying drugs, according to media reports in Russia
He faces up to 12 years in jail if convicted. Leake has lived and worked in Russia for more than a decade (Pictured is Leake being detained)
Before this he fought in Iraq for the US military, it is reported.
He was detained with a close Russian woman friend, named as Valeria Grobanyuk.
A search by armed officers was carried out in the American’s apartment on Zaporozhskaya Street in Moscow a few days ago, said reports.
The accusations are understood to involve the supply of Mephedrone.
A source at Moscow’s Khamovniki District Court said: ‘Travis Michael Leake was given a preventive measure in the form of detention.’
He will be held until 6 August.
Leake had worked as a singer or producer of several Russian rock bands.
He has been associated with Lovi Noch – ‘Seize the Night’ – band.
A search by armed officers was carried out in the American’s apartment on Zaporozhskaya Street in Moscow a few days ago, said reports
Leake had worked as a singer or producer of several Russian rock bands. He has been associated with Lovi Noch – ‘Seize the Night’ – band
A source at Moscow’s Khamovniki District Court said: ‘Travis Michael Leake was given a preventive measure in the form of detention’
Reports on his detention stated that he had visited Ukraine during the 2014 revolution.
According to the REN TV channel, a suspicious substance was found in his apartment on Zaporozhskaya Street in Moscow.
It was sent for examination along with scales, and other items.
Reports in the Russian media said that at first Leake had told investigators he did not know what he was accused of.
Later the American retracted his previous testimony and told police he decided to organise a small but profitable business for the sale of Mephedrone in Russia, according to reports.
It is unclear if he was put under duress to confess.
There was no independent corroboration of this claim which said the alleged supply had been to young people, mostly females.
According to the REN TV channel, a suspicious substance was found in his apartment on Zaporozhskaya Street in Moscow
Reports in the Russian media said that at first Leake had told investigators he did not know what he was accused of
Later the American retracted his previous testimony and told police he decided to organise a small but profitable business for the sale of Mephedrone in Russia, according to reports. It is unclear if he was put under duress to confess
During the war in Ukraine, there is suspicion Russia is arresting foreigners – especially Americans – under any pretext in order to barter in seeking the return of alleged Russian criminals detained in the West.
Russia is currently holding US journalist Evan Gershkovich, 31, on supposed espionage charges.
It is the first time Moscow has accused a US journalist of espionage since the Soviet era, and it comes during the war in Ukraine which has led to deeply strained east-west relations.
In December, the US and Russia swapped American basketball star Brittney Griner – detained in Moscow – for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout after months of negotiations.
Former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan remains detained in Russia.
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