Rabbi Aaron Tsadikov Photo: Facebook
Customs Find Psychotropic Drugs
Rabbi Aaron Tsadikov of the Mountain Jews community was detained at Domodedovo Airport in Moscow. According to 9tv, customs officers found two packs of the sedative tranquilizer “Xanax” in the hand luggage of the 47-year-old Israeli returning home.
Details of the Case
An examination revealed that the tablets contained 0.0588 grams of alprazolam, the active ingredient in the drug, which is used to treat panic disorders and anxiety neuroses. Tsadikov now faces potential criminal charges for smuggling psychotropic substances, with a minimum sentence of three years in prison.
Community and Family Impact
The detention took place on July 25, but the information has only now come to light. Tsadikov works with the Mountain Jews community “Shaarei Kedusha” in Moscow but resides permanently in Israel with his wife Raia and their five children.
Legal Perspective
Russian lawyer Sergey Zhorin explained that if Tsadikov provides law enforcement with a prescription for “Xanax” and a medical history extract, it could resolve the issue. He noted that while Russian laws allow the export of medications without restrictions, psychotropic, narcotic, and potent substances require documentation such as a prescription photo, pharmacy receipt, and a doctor’s note.
International Comparisons
Unlike in the US and several European countries, where medications containing alprazolam are only available by prescription and are prohibited from being taken abroad, Russian laws can be stringent. Tsadikov’s detention brings to mind the case of Naama Issachar, an Israeli detained at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport in 2019 for a small amount of hashish in her luggage. Issachar was sentenced to seven and a half years in a penal colony but was pardoned by Russian President Vladimir Putin in January 2020.
Ongoing Investigation
The investigation into Tsadikov’s case is expected to continue for some time, with the outcome depending on the documents provided and the circumstances of the case.
