MOSCOW (KNX) — The detainment of WNBA star Brittney Griner continues in Russia, after an incident involving vape cartridges and hashish oil in her luggage. Tuesday, TMZ reported that the first images of Griner since her arrest have been released by Russian State TV.
"Russian officials say they've launched a drug trafficking investigation and, if convicted, Griner could face a decade behind bars in Russia," TMZ reported, adding that Griner has allegedly not been heard from or seen in the last few weeks.
Over the weekend, Griner's wife Cherelle shared a post on Instagram, thanking the public for reaching out regarding Griner's safe return from Russia. She also asked fans to understand that this is one of the most difficult times of her life and to respect her family's privacy.
Monday, Cherelle posted a second time, giving an update on her family's emotional wellbeing as they wait to find out when Griner will be able to return to the United States.
"People say 'stay busy' yet, there's not a task in this world that could keep any of us from worrying about you. My heart, our hearts, are all skipping beats everyday that goes by," Cherelle wrote.
"I miss your voice. I miss your presence. You're our person! There are no words to express this pain. I'm hurting, we're hurting. We await the day to love on you as a family."
The photo of Griner released by Russian State Media and shared by CNN and TMZ shows her standing in front of a wall and holding a piece of paper between her hands. However, there's no indication of where or when it was taken.
Last weekend, the Russian Federal Customs Service released a statement addressing Griner's arrest, saying she was passing through the green channel at Sheremetyevo Airport after arriving from New York, when a dog with the customs canine department detected something in her bags.
"The customs inspection of the hand luggage being carried by the U.S. citizen confirmed the presence of vapes with specifically-smelling liquid, and an expert determined that the liquid was cannabis oil [hash oil], which is a narcotic substance,” the statement said.
If convicted, Griner — a center with the Phoenix Mercury — could face up to
10 years in prison.
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