I would avoid Aeroflot & Connecting in Moscow. Would you?

[Abe100]

The story of Naama Yissachar is truly chilling.

Russian court today denied her appeal and ruled she will have to serve her 7.5 years prison sentence. She was convicted of possessing 9 grams of hashish in her luggage while connecting in Moscow. She wasn't even trying to enter Russia, it was a connecting flight.

I would be very scared to connect in Russia, even that I don't carry drugs. It's clear that they wanted to arrest an Israeli, and the drug charge just came handy. There were multiple misconduct by the LE in her case.

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/273399

[AJK]

Don't travel with drugs?

[Abe100]

Don't travel with drugs?

I didn't inhale... Lol

And for the record, I don't even smoke cigarettes. The point I was making is, usually when a story like that emerges It doesn't sound alarming to the average/normal traveler. We may feel bad for them but the general notion is, They were smuggling drugs and deserve some punishment.

In this case, 1st of all she denies knowing of the drugs and suspects it was planted, 2nd of all, it appears she was chosen as a leverage. Why would they even search her luggage when she didn't try to enter Russia?

The Russians were upset on the Israelis about a detained hacker that was going to be extradited to the US and wanted to do an exchange. In the end Israel did send the hacker to the US, so the deal never happened.

[ckmk47]

Don't travel with drugs?

She had less than the amount that is legal in both Israel where she was going and India where she was traveling from.
So legal on both ends of her trip.  And she never intended to leave the airport.
Russian political games.

[Kobe Bryant]

I didn't inhale... Lol

And for the record, I don't even smoke cigarettes. The point I was making is, usually when a story like that emerges It doesn't sound alarming to the average/normal traveler. We may feel bad for them but the general notion is, They were smuggling drugs and deserve some punishment.

In this case, 1st of all she denies knowing of the drugs and suspects it was planted, 2nd of all, it appears she was chosen as a leverage. Why would they even search her luggage when she didn't try to enter Russia?

The Russians were upset on the Israelis about a detained hacker that was going to be extradited to the US and wanted to do an exchange. In the end Israel did send the hacker to the US, so the deal never happened.

+1
its very disturbing.

[Dan]

Very disturbing indeed. That's not to say she isn't stupid, you would have to be insane to travel with drugs.
But clearly they were looking for anyone with something illegal to use as a barter.

[AJK]

In this case, 1st of all she denies knowing of the drugs and suspects it was planted

Says quite literally every single person ever stopped for drugs.  Ever seen COPS?  "Oh, that ain't mine officer, I don't know where that came from. Someone must have stuck their valuable drugs in my pocket when I wasn't looking.  That ain't mine, I swear."

It certainly is tragic she's being made an example of, but the fact that she wasn't entering Russia is beside the point.  Even assuming you could skip U.S. CBP (which you can't), would you travel from Mexico to North Korea via the US with a couple of speedballs because your final destination isn't the US?  Or would you travel with porn, pork, and alcohol through Iran, even if it wasn't your final destination?

[Abe100]

Says quite literally every single person ever stopped for drugs.  Ever seen COPS?  "Oh, that ain't mine officer, I don't know where that came from. Someone must have stuck their valuable drugs in my pocket when I wasn't looking.  That ain't mine, I swear."

It certainly is tragic she's being made an example of, but the fact that she wasn't entering Russia is beside the point.  Even assuming you could skip U.S. CBP (which you can't), would you travel from Mexico to North Korea via the US with a couple of speedballs because your final destination isn't the US?  Or would you travel with porn, pork, and alcohol through Iran, even if it wasn't your final destination?

Would you smuggle 9 grams?

The penalty for possessing is 1 month jail time + fine. While initially charged with possessing, they subsequently changed it to smuggling which carries 7.5 years

No one would smuggle 9 grams I believe. Besides how would she smuggle it in without entering the country?

And that's my point. When you deal with a country like that, I would be afraid to set foot there. What if I jay walk, or cross on red? what will they be able to charge me with?

Not that the US Justice system is much better once they have a circle around you, but that's not on the same level as Russia I would hope.

[Ergel]

Seriously, we can all agree she was stupid for what she did. I can't believe you are arguing that point.
But we can also all agree that the punishment is disproportionate and that she is being used as a political tool and that is tragic

[Kobe Bryant]

Says quite literally every single person ever stopped for drugs.  Ever seen COPS?  "Oh, that ain't mine officer, I don't know where that came from. Someone must have stuck their valuable drugs in my pocket when I wasn't looking.  That ain't mine, I swear."

It certainly is tragic she's being made an example of, but the fact that she wasn't entering Russia is beside the point.  Even assuming you could skip U.S. CBP (which you can't), would you travel from Mexico to North Korea via the US with a couple of speedballs because your final destination isn't the US?  Or would you travel with porn, pork, and alcohol through Iran, even if it wasn't your final destination?

Even if she knowingly brought it along,and doing something as stupid and possibly illegal as that , the punishment doesn't fit the crime.
this is obviously political retribution, and that's where someone holding an IL passport has to weigh the potential consequence of traveling to Russia at the moment       

[Abe100]

Says quite literally every single person ever stopped for drugs.  Ever seen COPS?  "Oh, that ain't mine officer, I don't know where that came from. Someone must have stuck their valuable drugs in my pocket when I wasn't looking.  That ain't mine, I swear."

The slight difference is, in COPS the criminal is caught with a bag and claims someone slipped it inside.

She didn't have her bags. She checked in her bags in Delhi and was suppose to collect them in TLV. It was not in her carry on.

So when she claims she didn't put it in there, and seeing how that case was handled, I can believe it was planted.

[KSMH]

There was a story of a Lakewood boy holed up in Russian jail found to  have some bullets in his baggage as a transit passenger.

It's scary that a connecting flight with luggage not being taken by passenger can get you charged and convicted while being totally legal in origin and destination country.


I will totally avoid if not necessary or being extra careful what I pack.

I must say I'm lucky, I was about to bring something back to USA from ISL with a connecting in RS but my better judgment told me not to.

[yaakovely]

I will never understand why people are willing to stop over in Russia or Turkey to save a few $. One should definitely consult their Rav before doing so.

[Kobe Bryant]

I will never understand why people are willing to stop over in Russia or Turkey to save a few $. One should definitely consult their Rav before doing so.

I have to wonder how Turkey is part of this conversation.
I paid extra to fly through IST as Istanbul is one of my favorite cities in the world.

[davidrotts63]

I will never understand why people are willing to stop over in Russia or Turkey to save a few $. One should definitely consult their Rav before doing so.

LOL.

[gozalim]

I must say I'm lucky, I was about to bring something back to USA from ISL with a connecting in RS but my better judgment told me not to.

I think you meant TLV and DME or SVO. around here acronyms are usually airport codes, not just random made-up shorthand. even IL and RU as country codes would be more clear than this

[KSMH]

I think you meant TLV and DME or SVO. around here acronyms are usually airport codes, not just random made-up shorthand. even IL and RU as country codes would be more clear than this

Will try better next time.

[Something Fishy]

HT the one and only @Chaikel

[davidrotts63]

HT the one and only @Chaikel

ALOL!

[KSMH]

HT the one and only @Chaikel

If he suspects she might carry some hashish then, reroute.