WNBA Star Freed In Exchange For Russian Arms-Trafficker

WNBA star Britney Griner has been released from Russian prison in a one-for-one prisoner swap, reports CBS News.

Russia exchanged Griner for international arms dealer Viktor Bout, known as the "merchant of death” on Thursday in the United Arab Emirates. Bout was serving a 25-year federal sentence for conspiring to kill Americans, acquire and export anti-aircraft missiles and provide material support to a terrorist organization, noted CNN.

The exchange was negotiated with Moscow in recent weeks and given final approval by President Biden within the last week.

Biden confirmed on Twitter that Griner was safe and that she was on her way home.

Griner was detained in February and later plead guilty to charges stemming from the discovery of cannabis-derived oil in her luggage.