A 40 year old puppeteer actor is suspected of illegal hashish sales, according to investigators he sold the drug right in the theater foyer between performances. Medical tests confirmed cannabis use, and searches found nine hashish pieces prepared for sale. The article also says employers, especially in child related fields, should monitor staff conduct and do drug testing

A 40-year-old man works as a puppeteer and, according to operational data, in the intervals between performances he was openly dealing hashish right in the theater building’s foyer.
- What were you detained for?
- They said I was suspected of selling some kind of narcotic substances…
- So, you do not consider yourself involved in the sale?
- No…
- And do you have any connection to drugs at all?
- I smoke them…
The fact that the puppeteer does indeed use cannabis-group drugs was confirmed by a medical examination. The drug-dependent actor explained that he uses hashish as substitute therapy for his alcohol addiction, from which he recently underwent coding. And the fact of sale was confirmed by operational records. In addition, during search operations, 9 fragments of hashish, packaged and prepared for sale, were found in the dressing room and at the puppeteer’s home. At present, a criminal case has been opened against the puppet theater actor under Article 228.1, Part 1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (“Illegal sale of narcotic drugs”), and a recognizance not to leave has been chosen as the preventive measure.
It is in the interest of any employer to monitor the moral character of its staff, especially if the work involves children. Testing for drug use will make it possible to weed out unreliable individuals both at the application stage and among already employed staff.