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
MAY 30, 2017VietnamDEATH PENALTYVIETNAM: FIVE SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR HEROIN SMUGGLING
A Vietnamese drug lord who continued to run his smuggling network from prison was sentenced to die alongside four of his lieutenants, an official said.
MAY 28, 2017MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: KENYAN WOMAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
A Kenyan woman was sentenced to death by a Malaysian court after she was found guilty of trafficking in methamphetamine four years ago.
- MAY 26, 2017IranDEATH PENALTY
A prisoner was reportedly hanged at Khorramabad's Parsilon Prison on the charge of possession and trafficking 850 grams of heroin.
A prisoner was reportedly hanged at Khorramabad's Parsilon Prison on the charge of possession and trafficking 850 grams of heroin.
MAY 19, 2017SingaporeDEATH PENALTYSINGAPORE: DRUG TRAFFICKER HANGED AFTER EXHAUSTING AVENUES OF APPEAL
Singaporean drug trafficker Muhammad Ridzuan Md Ali, 31, was executed at Changi Prison, having exhausted all avenues of appeal.
MAY 4, 2017MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: SINGAPOREAN GETS DEATH FOR DISTRIBUTING DRUGS IN JOHOR
A 46-year-old Singaporean contractor was sentenced to death by the High Court in Johor Baru after he was found guilty of two counts of drug distribution.
- APRIL 24, 2017IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN TRIES TO ABOLISH DEATH PENALTY FOR TRAFFICKING AS IT WRESTLES WITH RISING DRUG CHARGES
Iranian parliament’s Judicial Commission spokesperson has announced that this commission has agreed with a proposal to reduce death penalty to 30 years in prison for a number of drug-related offences.
APRIL 21, 2017SingaporeDEATH PENALTYSINGAPORE: MAN HANGED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Mohd Jeefrey bin Ismail was hanged in the early hours, at least according to the scheduled execution date given to his family by the Singapore Prison Service.
APRIL 16, 2017MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: HOTEL MANAGER GETS DEATH SENTENCE FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
A hotel manager was sent to the gallows by the Magistrate’s Court in Muar after he found guilty of trafficking 82.38 gm of heroin last year.
APRIL 9, 2017Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: THREE PEOPLE EXECUTED FOR HEROIN SMUGGLING
Saudi Arabia executed three Pakistani nationals convicted of smuggling heroin, bringing the number of executions in the kingdom to 26 this year.
MARCH 23, 2017Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA EXECUTES TWO DRUG DEALERS INCLUDING PAKISTANI NATIONAL
Saudi Arabia executed two convicted drug traffickers bringing the number of prisoners killed in the kingdom to 20 so far this year.
- MARCH 22, 2017VietnamDEATH PENALTY
VIETNAM: 9 MEN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Vietnamese state media say a court has sentenced nine men to death for trafficking more than 1,000 pounds of heroin.
MARCH 19, 2017Palestinian TerritoriesDEATH PENALTYGAZA: HAMAS SENTENCES 2 DRUG DEALERS TO DEATH
A Hamas military court has sentenced two Palestinians to death for drug dealing, in the first-such case since the militant group seized the Gaza Strip a decade ago.
MARCH 16, 2017IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: UNIDENTIFIED PRISONER HANGED ON DRUG CHARGES
An unidentified prisoner was reportedly hanged at Semnan Prison (northern Iran) on drug related charges.
- MARCH 12, 2017IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN CONDITIONS DEATH PENALTY FOR DRUG OFFENSES
Capital punishment will be removed for all drug-related offenses with the exception of 3 cases, vice-chairman of Parliament’s Judiciary Committee told MNA.
MARCH 7, 2017PhilippinesDEATH PENALTYPHILIPPINES: HOUSE OKS RESTORING DEATH PENALTY FOR DRUG CASES
The Philippine House of Representatives approved a bill to restore the death penalty by hanging, lethal injection or firing squad for drug offenses despite opposition from the influential Roman Catholic church and human rights groups.
FEBRUARY 27, 2017MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: DEATH ROW INMATE SPARED THE NOOSE THANKS TO ROYAL PARDON
A man who was sentenced to death for drug trafficking in 2009 has received a second chance at life after Selangor Ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah granted him a pardon.
- FEBRUARY 27, 2017MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA: INDONESIAN TO HANG FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
A 33-year-old Indonesian man was sentenced to death by the High Court in Tawau for trafficking in 707 grams of syabu.
- FEBRUARY 3, 2017MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA: TWO FRIENDS SENT TO THE GALLOWS FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Two friends were sentenced to death by the High Court in Kuala Lumpur for drug trafficking.
JANUARY 19, 2017IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: NINE PRISONERS HANGED ON DRUG CHARGES
At least nine prisoners have been hanged in Iran on drug charges in the last days.
- JANUARY 17, 2017IranDEATH PENALTY
five people were executed in two different cities on drug related charges. A 36-year-old prisoner, identified
five people were executed in two different cities on drug related charges. A 36-year-old prisoner, identified
- JANUARY 16, 2017MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA: GUINEAN COLLEGE STUDENT SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
A 29-year-old Guinean college student was sentenced to death by the High Court in Kuala Lumpur after he was found guilty of trafficking in 3,304.6gm of cocaine.
- JANUARY 11, 2017MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA: BRUNEIAN MAN AND MALAYSIAN ACCOMPLICE SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
The Sabah High Court sentenced a Bruneian man and his Malaysian accomplice to death after they were
JANUARY 4, 2017IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: FOUR PRISONERS EXECUTED ON ARMED ROBBERY, DRUG RELATED CHARGES
Iran reportedly hanged three prisoners at Rajai Shahr Prison in Karaj and one prisoner at Lakan central prison in Rasht.
- JANUARY 1, 2017IndonesiaDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty is applicable for murder..
The death penalty is applicable for murder...
- JANUARY 1, 2017IranDEATH PENALTY
In accordance with Article 4 of the Iranian Constitution...
In accordance with Article 4 of the Iranian Constitution...
- JANUARY 1, 2017LaosDEATH 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, 2017MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
In Malaysia capital crimes include murder...
In Malaysia capital crimes include murder...
- JANUARY 1, 2017OmanDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty is provided for under the penal laws of the Sultanate of Oman, which make reference to Sharia law.
The death penalty is provided for under the penal laws of the Sultanate of Oman, which make reference to Sharia law.
- JANUARY 1, 2017SingaporeDEATH PENALTY
Capital crimes are: murder, treason, offences against the President, illegal possession of arms, kidnapping and causing an innocent person to be executed by bearing false witness.
Capital crimes are: murder, treason, offences against the President, illegal possession of arms, kidnapping and causing an innocent person to be executed by bearing false witness.
- JANUARY 1, 2017VietnamDEATH PENALTY
Capital punishment remains for crimes
Capital punishment remains for crimes such as murder, armed robbery, drug trafficking, and sexual abuse of children.