Russia arrests American musicians on drug charges

An American musician and former paratrooper has been arrested in Moscow, Russia, for drug trafficking while being paraded in a cage on state TV – and people have questions.

Reuters reports that 51-year-old musician and rock band executive Michael Travis Leake was arrested on June 6 and Russian authorities say he was selling drugs. Leake is suspected of selling mephedrone, a drug whose effects are often placed somewhere between cocaine and MDMA. Russia banned mephedrone in 2010. However, there are many suspicions, as Leake has spoken out on television about censorship and oppression in Russia.

Rossiya 24 – the state Russian-language news channel – showed him standing in a court cage. Russian tabloid Ren TV showed how Leake was arrested in Moscow on June 6 lying on the ground in his underwear and a T-shirt with his hands tied behind his back.

Leake apparently denies any involvement: “I don’t understand why I’m here,” Leake said in a statement to police, Ren TV reports. I don’t admit guilt, I don’t think I could have done what I’m accused of because I don’t know what I’m accused of.”

Russian authorities regularly accuse journalists of espionage. For example, Evan Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal journalist and US citizen, was arrested on “espionage charges” last March.

“On June 10, 2023, the Khamovniki District Court of Moscow imposed a measure of restraint on a US citizen,” Moscow’s courts of general jurisdiction said on Telegram. “The former paratrooper and musician, who is accused of running a youth drug trafficking business, remains in custody until August 6, 2023.” The Russian court statement misspelled his name “Travis Michael Leek.”

US officials confirmed Leake’s detention on Saturday.

“We can confirm that Michael Travis Leake has been arrested and is being held in Moscow. Embassy officials were present at his indictment on June 10,” a US State Department spokesman told CNN. “We will continue to monitor the case closely.”

Who is Michael Travis Leake?

For an episode of Parts Unknown on CNN, the late host (and cannabis fan) personally selected Anthony Bourdain Leake to be a contributor to the show. Leake and others filmed in Moscow and St. Petersburg, Russia in 2014.

Leake spoke about his frustration with censorship in Russia and recalled an incident involving his band and MTV.

“This was a documentary series about musicians who stood up, and in some cases risked their lives, to stand up against government abuse of power and corruption,” Leake said on Parts Unknown. “Yet a foreign government has been able to editorially control what American viewers see on their television screens. For me, this is a scandal of epic proportions.”

It was apparently one of Bourdain’s favorite interviews.

Leake will remain in custody until August 6th. Leake’s mother, Glenda Garcia, told CNN her growing concerns, including the idea that her son could be used more or less as a political pawn.

Leake was formerly the songwriter and musician for the Russian-based rock band Lovi Noch, which means “Catch the Night” in Russian.

Tendency to arrest Americans in Russia

During the war in Ukraine, tensions between the US and Russia are high, which doesn’t bode well for Americans who bring drugs into the country.

Last December, US basketball star Brittney Griner was released after President Biden and authorities negotiated a prisoner swap. Griner faces nine years in a penal colony for possession of e-cigarette cartridges containing cannabis oil.

In a controversial move, the US agreed to trade Griner for Viktor Bout, a Russian arms dealer who was serving a 25-year sentence in the US.

But US authorities accused Russia of using people like Griner and others as political pawns.

Former US Marine Paul Whelan is serving a 16-year sentence in a Russian penal colony after being convicted on “espionage” charges.

Also, don’t forget about the Americans, who aren’t as well-known. Marc Fogel, 61, was arrested in Russia last year after authorities found medicinal cannabis in his possession.

Interfax, a Russian news agency, reported that if Leake is found guilty, he could face up to 12 years in prison.