In August, traffic police officers in the village of Selikhino stopped a moped ridden by a 39-year-old local man to check his documents.[1] During the check, officers found a blue bag in his possession containing a packet of plant material.[1] The investigation into his case has now been completed and the case materials have been sent to court for trial.[1] The accused remains under a signed undertaking not to leave his place of residence and to behave properly while awaiting court.[1]

Forensic examination identified the seized material as cannabis, with a dried weight of 136 grams.[1] The man told police that he had personally gathered wild hemp in the forest and kept it for his own use.[1] Authorities opened a criminal case for illegal acquisition, storage, transportation, making or processing of drugs on a large scale without intent to sell, under part 2 of Article 228 of the Russian Criminal Code.[1] That charge carries a maximum penalty of up to 10 years of imprisonment.[1]

Police are treating the case as possession without intent to sell.[1] The case update is attributed to the press service of the Russian Interior Ministry for Khabarovsk Krai.[1]