OREANDA-NEWS Investigators have opened a criminal case on large-scale drug smuggling and possession against a former employee of the US Embassy in Moscow, Mark Fogel. This was reported by Russian media TASS on Thursday, January 27, with with reference to the press service of the transport Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia in the Central Federal District.

«US citizen [Mark Fogel] has been detained, a criminal case has been opened against him on the grounds of a crime under part 3 of Article 229.1 and part 2 of Article 228 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. Since the suspect could have escaped from the investigation on the territory of the embassy, the Khimki City Court chose a preventive measure in the form of detention for him», the press service informed.

The Interior Ministry added that after the initiation of a criminal case, police officers conducted a search at the place of residence of the detainee. «It has been established that his wife, who was released home, managed to get rid of the evidence in the apartment before the arrival of the investigative task force», the press service added. As can be seen on the surveillance camera recordings, she, observing precautions, takes out a package from the house and throws it into the trash can. Later, the woman picks it up, puts it in a bag and takes it outside the residential complex.

Last summer, Mark Fogel and his wife arrived in Moscow by flight from New York. During the passage of the «green corridor» at Sheremetyevo airport, customs officers stopped them. The reason was the reaction to his luggage of service dogs who are trained to detect prohibited substances. During customs control, marijuana and hashish oil were found in the foreigner's luggage. At the same time, the drugs were carefully disguised, in particular, marijuana was packaged in contact lens packages, and cannabis oil was in cartridges for electronic cigarettes, all this was wrapped in polyethylene and hidden in sneakers.