The death penalty for drug offences
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International law restricts the death penalty, where it still exists, to the most serious crimes, and United Nations bodies have made clear more than once that drug offences do not belong to that category. Despite this, some states go on sentencing people to death and executing them for trafficking or possession of narcotics: in certain years these executions are a substantial share of the world total.
This page collects the news on death sentences and executions for drug offences.
Latest news
SEPTEMBER 27, 2018IndonesiaDEATH PENALTYINDONESIA: TWO DRUG TRAFFICKERS SENTENCED TO DEATH
The Bengkalis District Court in Riau sentenced two people to death on September 26, 2018 after they were found guilty of violating the Narcotics Law by transporting 10 kilograms of powdered methamphetamine.
SEPTEMBER 26, 2018SingaporeDEATH PENALTYSINGAPORE: WOMAN SENTENCED TO MANDATORY DEATH PENALTY FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
A 40-year-old Singaporean woman on September 20, 2018 was sentenced to the mandatory death penalty after she was caught selling drugs.
SEPTEMBER 24, 2018MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: DEATH SENTENCES COMMUTED FOR 3 MEXICAN BROTHERS
The deaths sentences against three Mexican brothers - Jose Regino, Simon and Luis Alfonso Gonzalez Villarreal - convicted of drug trafficking in Malaysia have been commuted to prison terms, a lawyer said on September 21, 2018.
SEPTEMBER 5, 2018MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: TWO AFRICAN MEN SENT TO GALLOWS FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Two Africans have been sentenced to death for trafficking 2,083g of methamphetamine.
AUGUST 7, 2018ChinaDEATH PENALTYCHINA: DRUG LORD BILLED AS THE 'GODFATHER OF CRYSTAL METH' IS SENTENCED TO DEATH
A Chinese drug lord known as the 'godfather of crystal meth' was sentenced to death.
AUGUST 2, 2018VietnamDEATH PENALTYVIETNAM: FIVE SENTENCED TO DEATH IN MAJOR DRUG TRAFFICKING CASE
The People’s Court of Ho Chi Minh City has handed down the capital punishment on five defendants involving in the illegal trade and transportation of a big amount of drug at the end of a four-day trial.
- JULY 11, 2018Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
SRI LANKA TO HANG 19 DRUG CONVICTS
Sri Lanka will carry out the death sentence for 19 convicts over serious drug offences
JUNE 23, 2018ChinaDEATH PENALTYCHINA: 10 EXECUTED FOR SERIES OF DRUG CRIMES
Ten drug traffickers were executed in Guangdong province after an appeals court upheld their earlier conviction and pronounced sentence.
- JUNE 19, 2018ThailandDEATH PENALTY
THAILAND EXECUTES FIRST PRISONER BY LETHAL INJECTION SINCE 2009
Thailand has executed its first prisoner since 2009, the Department of Corrections said
JUNE 11, 2018BangladeshDEATH PENALTYBANGLADESH - 2 GO TO GALLOWS
FOR HEROIN
- JUNE 6, 2018MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA. TAN CHUN CHENG AND TAN CHOON HUI SENTENCED TO DEATH
FOR DRUGS
- MAY 29, 2018IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN DRUG EXECUTIONS FALL BY 99% FOLLOWING LEGAL AMENDMENT
The implementation of the death penalty for drug offences has all but ended in Iran, although human rights advocates continue to express concern at the judicial system’s response to drugs.
MAY 3, 2018MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: DEATH PENALTY NO LONGER MANDATORY FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Malaysians Against Death Penalty and Torture (Madpet) is pleased that the Dangerous Drugs Amendment Act 2017, which received royal assent on 27 December 2017, has finally, after much delay, come into force on 15 March 2018.
MAY 2, 2018ChinaDEATH PENALTYCHINA: TWO MYANMAR DRUG DEALERS SENTENCED TO DEATH
A court in southwest China's Yunnan Province sentenced two people from Myanmar to death for drug trafficking and killing a Chinese policeman.
APRIL 18, 2018Myanmar (Burma)DEATH PENALTYMYANMAR: PRESIDENT GRANTS GENERAL AMNESTY FOR 8541 PRISONERS
President Win Myint granted a general amnesty for 8541 prisoners including 36 prisoners of conscience and 51 foreign ones to mark Myanmar New Year day which falls on April 17.
APRIL 4, 2018MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: THREE MEN SENT TO GALLOWS FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Three men, including two Taiwanese nationals, were sentenced to death by the High Court in Malaysia after they were found guilty of trafficking in 8kg of drug into the country.
MARCH 16, 2018SingaporeDEATH PENALTYSINGAPORE: DRUG TRAFFICKER HANGED AFTER LAST-DITCH BID TO REOPEN CASE FAILS
Convicted Singaporean drug trafficker Hishamrudin Mohd was hanged in the Changi Prison Complex after failing on the preceding day - in a final court bid - to reopen his case.
MARCH 14, 2018Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: HEROIN PEDDLER SENTENCED TO DEATH
A heroin peddler accused of trafficking 14.6 grams of heroin was sentenced to death by the Colombo High Court.
MARCH 9, 2018SingaporeDEATH PENALTYSINGAPORE: GHANAIAN DRUG TRAFFICKER HANGED AFTER CLEMENCY PLEA REJECTED
Singapore executed a Ghanaian man for drug smuggling, rejecting his plea for clemency.
FEBRUARY 13, 2018DEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: THREE SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Three men have been sentenced to death recently in Malaysia for drug trafficking.
- FEBRUARY 9, 2018MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
the High Court sentenced to death by hanging S. Pragasam after he was found guilty of trafficking in drugs two years ago.
the High Court sentenced to death by hanging S. Pragasam after he was found guilty of trafficking in drugs two years ago.
- JANUARY 25, 2018MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA: LORRY DRIVER TO HANG FOR TRAFFICKING OVER 45KG OF DRUGS
A lorry driver was sent to the gallows by the High Court after being found guilty of counts of trafficking over 45 kg of drugs, 2 years ago.
JANUARY 17, 2018MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: MALAYSIAN, FOUR INDIAN NATIONALS SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
A Malaysian and four Indian nationals were sent to the gallows by the Shah Alam High Court for drug trafficking.
JANUARY 10, 2018DEATH PENALTYIRAN: EXECUTIONS SUSPENDED AFTER RELAXING LAW ON DRUG OFFENCES
All cases in which people have been sentenced to death in Iran for drug offences are to be reviewed, Ali Larijani, the speaker of the country’s parliament, said.
- JANUARY 9, 2018DEATH PENALTY
EGYPT COURT SEEKS EXECUTION OF 13 EGYPTIAN, YEMENI DRUG DEALERS
An Egyptian court recommended the execution of 13 defendants including eight Egyptians and five Yemenis over drug smuggling, state-run MENA news agency reported.
- JANUARY 3, 2018DEATH PENALTY
SRI LANKA: MAN GETS DEATH SENTENCE FOR 18G OF HEROIN
A suspect found guilty for the possession and distribution of heroin was sentenced to death by the Colombo High Court.
JANUARY 3, 2018DEATH PENALTYVIETNAM: DRUG TRAFFICKERS SENTENCED TO DEATH, LIFE IMPRISONMENT
The People’s Court of Hanoi sentenced two people to death and six to life imprisonment for smuggling drugs between the northern mountainous province of Son La and Hanoi.
- JANUARY 1, 2018LaosDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty in Laos is applied in cases of treason, murder and rape
The death penalty in Laos is applied in cases of treason, murder and rape
- JANUARY 1, 2018North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
North Korea denies holding any political prisoners.
North Korea denies holding any political prisoners.
- JANUARY 1, 2018VietnamDEATH PENALTY
Capital punishment remains for crimes
Capital punishment remains for crimes such as murder, armed robbery, drug trafficking, and sexual abuse of children.