Russia reportedly frees American Kalob Byers, detained for alleged cannabis, as Trump seeks Ukraine deal

Russia has freed a U.S. citizen arrested earlier this month on drug smuggling charges, according to Russian media reports and a U.S. official who spoke with The Associated Press. The move appeared to be an effort to ease tension between Moscow and Washington ahead of talks in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, which are expected to focus on the war in Ukraine and the fragile ceasefire between Hamas and Israel in Gaza.

Kalob Byers, 28, was detained on Feb. 7 at Moscow's Vnukovo airport after customs officials allegedly found cannabis-laced gummies or marmalade in his baggage. It was unclear from Russian media reports exactly what the purportedly-laced food products were. 

According to the reports, Byers had traveled from Istanbul with his Russian fiancee, who was also detained. The authorities said he had attempted to smuggle a "significant amount" of drugs into the country and put him in custody on the charges of drug smuggling, punishable by a prison term of up to 10 years.