High-profile personalities have taken to Twitter to express shock at the arrest of American women’s basketball pro Brittney Gringer for alleged drug smuggling, horrified at the fact that the case was kept under wraps for three weeks. Amid the backdrop of Russia’s attack on Ukraine and deteriorating ties with the United States, reports say the Phoenix Mercury centre was detained at a Moscow airport. The Russian Federal Customs Service confirmed that an American basketball player was taken into custody after authorities found vape cartridges that contained hashish oil in her luggage at Sheremetyevo Airport in February. The Russian news agency TASS, citing a law enforcement source, identified the player as Griner. “I can’t believe Brittney Griner has been in Russian custody for 3 weeks and the news is just now breaking here,” wrote feminist activist Roxane Gay, who has 874,000 followers on Twitter. “What a nightmare scenario. I cannot even imagine what she must be feeling rn.” I can’t believe Brittney Griner has been in Russian custody for 3 weeks and the news is just now breaking here. What a nightmare scenario. I cannot even imagine what she must be feeling rn. — roxane gay (@rgay) March 5, 2022 Damien Woody, a former NFL player who won two Super Bowl titles with the New England Patriots, wrote to his 149,000 followers: “Brittney Griner has been detained for 3 weeks and we’re just hearing about it?” The Bleacher Report’s Taylor Rooks, who has more than 231 followers, wrote: “Praying for Brittney Griner’s safety and her rights. An incredibly scary situation. Heartbreaking BG has been in there almost a month and we’re just now really finding out. We need to get her home.” Brittney Griner has been detained for 3 weeks and we’re just hearing about it? — Damien Woody (@damienwoody) March 5, 2022 A seven-time WNBA All-Star and two-time Olympic gold medallist, Griner could face a sentence of up to 10 years in a Russian prison if convicted. Griner’s agent and spokespersons with the WNBA and Mercury did not return The New York Times ’ requests for comment. Griner has played for a Russian professional team during the WNBA’s off season since 2015. It wasn’t clear exactly how long Griner had been in custody, with the customs service saying only that the arrest occurred “in February”. According to the statement, an inspection of hand luggage carried by a US citizen who arrived on a flight from New York “confirmed the presence of ‘vapes’ [and] a liquid with a specific smell”. Praying for Brittney Griner’s safety and her rights. An incredibly scary situation. Heartbreaking BG has been in there almost a month and we’re just now really finding out. We need to get her home. — Taylor Rooks (@TaylorRooks) March 5, 2022 It said an expert had determined that the liquid was the narcotic cannabis oil (hashish oil) and said the charges carry a potential jail term of five to 10 years. The statement did not identify the jailed woman but said she was a two-time Olympic basketball champion for the United States and a player in the WNBA. The customs service also released a video on Saturday in which airport security services are seen going through the luggage of a passenger who appears to be Griner. USA Basketball, which oversees the Olympic teams, said on Twitter that it was “aware of and closely monitoring the legal situation facing Brittney Griner in Russia”. It added: “Brittney has always handled herself with the utmost professionalism during her long tenure with USA Basketball and her safety and well-being are our primary concerns.” Griner’s agent, Lindsay Kagawa Colas of Wasserman Group, said in a statement issued to US media that the agency was in contact with Griner. “We are aware of the situation with Brittney Griner in Russia and are in close contact with her, her legal representation in Russia, her family, her teams, and the WNBA and NBA,” she said. “As this is an ongoing legal matter, we are not able to comment further on the specifics of her case but can confirm that as we work to get her home, her mental and physical health remain our primary concern.” Griner, 31, led the Phoenix Mercury to the franchise’s third WNBA title in 2014 and a surprise return to the WNBA finals in October. The 2.06m centre has played for UMMC Ekaterinburg during the WNBA off season since 2015, helping the club to three Russian domestic titles and EuroLeague Women championships in 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2021. Griner is among a majority of the 144 players on WNBA rosters who have played overseas in the North American league’s off season. A WNBA spokeswoman told The New York Times on Saturday that all WNBA players apart from Griner had left Russia and Ukraine in the wake of Russia’s invasion of the neighbouring country. The Mercury, the WNBA and the WNBA Players Association all issued statements supporting Griner, the WNBA saying she had the league’s full support and our main priority is her swift and safe return to the United States.” The Mercury added: “We love and support Brittney, and at this time our main concern is her safety, physical and mental health, and her safe return home.”