An Indian-origin manager at Walt Disney Company has been sentenced to two-and-a-half years in a Russian prison after being found guilty of drug possession and smuggling. The case stems from a THC-infused gummy candy allegedly found in his luggage at a Moscow airport.According to Russian state media TASS, 46-year-old Gogal Datyrao was arrested in January 2026 at Sheremetyevo International Airport after arriving on a flight through Qatar. Customs officials allegedly found cannabis-infused gummy candy during a routine baggage search.A court in Russia’s Moscow region found Datyrau guilty of drug possession and smuggling, and sentenced him to two years and six months in a medium-security penal colony.
He was also fined 30,000 rubles (about $420).During the court proceedings, Datterau said the gummies were legally prescribed in the United States to help manage the long-term effects of brain surgery. But the court rejected the defense and convicted him under Russian drug laws.Russian media reported that Datirao is an Indian citizen, although it remains unclear whether he also holds American citizenship, the Moscow Times reported.
Who is Jugal Datirao?
Datterau describes himself on LinkedIn as a technology executive and program manager in New York. According to his profile, he has been working at The Walt Disney Company since 2019, supervising entertainment and technology-related programs.His social media profiles indicate that he resides in the US state of New Jersey. Russian reports did not specify the purpose of his visit to Russia.