Two Friends Sentenced to 9 Years in High-Security Prison for Package with Marijuana from Canada

In Yekaterinburg, two men have been sentenced to nine years in a high-security penal colony after receiving a package containing marijuana from Canada. Nikita Kuznetsov and Mikhail Bakun were found guilty under Article 229.1 of the Russian Criminal Code (illegal transportation of narcotic drugs across the customs border of the Customs Union within the EurAsEC in a large amount) and Article 228 (illegal acquisition and possession of narcotic drugs in a large amount), according to the press service of the Sverdlovsk Region Prosecutor’s Office.

According to officials, in May of last year, the two friends contacted a resident of Canada and ordered 800 grams of marijuana for 60,000 rubles. They paid for the drugs, asked for them to be mailed, and waited for the package to arrive.

The press service of the Sverdlovsk Region Prosecutor’s Office stated:

“Thus, Kuznetsov and Bakun illegally acquired, transported across the customs border from Canada to the Russian Federation, and stored a narcotic substance with a total mass of over 800 grams.”

As a result, both men received nine-year prison sentences to be served in a high-security penal colony.