Over 53 kg of marijuana and cannabis seized from three men near Stepnoye
Police in the Jewish Autonomous Oblast detained three men near Stepnoye village and seized 53.1 kilograms of marijuana and cannabis plant parts, which an expert examination confirmed. A criminal case was opened under part 2 of article 228 of the Russian Criminal Code, which carries up to ten years in prison.
🇷🇺 Stepnoye, Leningradsky district, Jewish Autonomous Oblast · Russia
Criminal-investigation officers of the Leningradsky police division, with the
support of Rosgvardia troops, detained three men in the vicinity of Stepnoye
village in the Jewish Autonomous Oblast and seized more than 53 kilograms of
marijuana and parts of cannabis plants from them.[1]An expert examination
found that the seized material contained 25.235 kilograms of marijuana and 27.87
kilograms of parts of cannabis plants, totalling 53.105 kilograms.[1]
Police found and seized six bundles with parts of plants, five bags, and a tarp
with plant material at the scene.[1]Preliminary data indicated that the three
men did not know each other and had arrived in the vicinity of the village
independently, to collect the banned plants.[2]
An investigator at the Leningradsky police division opened a criminal case under
part 2 of article 228 of the Russian Criminal Code, which covers the illegal
acquisition and storage of narcotic drugs in a large amount; the maximum penalty
is up to ten years in prison.[1]The investigation was still under way at the
time of the reports.[1]
Case data
Every number and detail the sources state, with the sources that state it.
Arrested
3
Cannabis
53.105 kg
Agency type
Police, Gendarmerie
Cannabis
Herbal cannabis (25.235 kg); Living plants (27.87 kg)
Activity
Possession
Setting
Field
Grown
Wild
Charge
illegal acquisition and storage of narcotic drugs in a large amount (part 2 of article 228 of the Criminal Code)
Case stage
Under investigation
Region
Jewish Autonomous Oblast
Date
Publication date
Sources
РИА Биробиджанriabir.ruRUБолее 53 кг марихуаны и конопли изъяли у троих мужчин в Ленинском районе ЕАО
EAOMediaeaomedia.ruRUБолее 53 кг дурман-травы изъяли у троих мужчин в Ленинском районе ЕАО
Open questions the AI reported
No separate date for the detention was published; 13 November 2026 is the publication date of both accounts and is used as the incident date.
The EAOMedia headline says 'дурман-травы' (datura) but the body text confirms the substance is marijuana and cannabis plant parts; the headline appears to be a mislabel.
The men's names were not published and no court date or outcome was reported.
The investigation was still under way at the time of the reports; no charges beyond the initial article 228 case were reported.
The police photo published with the RIA Birobidzhan and EAOMedia articles is labelled 'тематическое фото' (thematic/illustrative photo) by EAOMedia and is not confirmed to show the seized material or the scene, so it is not listed as media.
Police in Nevinnomyssk detained a 60-year-old man after finding about 5 kg of marijuana spread across the floor and windowsills of his home. He said he kept the drug for personal use, and investigators opened a criminal case under part 2 of article 228.
Police found more than a kilogram of marijuana and about 200 grams of cannabis parts and seeds in a 35-year-old man's bathhouse in Gai, Orenburg Oblast, during the anti-drug operation Kanal – Kaspiysky Mayak. The man said he grew the plants for himself; a criminal case under part 2 of article 228 carries up to 10 years and he was placed under a written undertaking not to leave.
Police in Pavlovsky District, Voronezh Oblast, seized more than 346 grams of cannabis from the attic of a 19-year-old resident of Vorontsovka village. The young man said he had gathered wild bushes nearby for personal use, and a criminal case on large-scale drug storage was opened, carrying up to 10 years in prison.
Sakhalin police searched a 39-year-old man from Petropavlovskoye and his flat and outbuildings, seizing 0.62 grams of cannabis and 1,043.5 grams of cannabis plant parts. A criminal case was opened under part 2 of article 228 for large-scale drug storage, and he was placed under an undertaking not to leave.
