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
- JANUARY 1, 2017BruneiDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty is mandatory for murder
The death penalty is mandatory for murder
- JANUARY 1, 2017North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
North Korea denies holding any political prisoners.
North Korea denies holding any political prisoners.
DECEMBER 31, 2016VietnamDEATH PENALTYVIETNAM: DEATH PENALTY FOR SIX DRUG TRAFFICKERS
Six defendants involved in Viet Nam’s biggest drug trafficking case were sentenced to death by the People’s Court of the northern Quang Ninh Province.
NOVEMBER 21, 2016VietnamDEATH PENALTYVIETNAM: APPEALS COURT COMMUTES DEATH SENTENCE ON AUSSIE DRUG TRAFFICKER
An appeals court in Vietnam commuted the death sentence of a 73-year-old Australian woman convicted of heroin trafficking.
NOVEMBER 20, 2016MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: FATHER OF FIVE SENTENCED TO GALLOWS FOR TRAFFICKING 15KG OF METH
The Alor Star High Court sentenced a father of five to
NOVEMBER 18, 2016SingaporeDEATH PENALTYSINGAPORE EXECUTES MALAYSIAN, NIGERIAN FOR TRAFFICKING, AUTHORITIES CONFIRM
Singapore executed two foreigners convicted of drug trafficking, authorities said, a day after the city-state's highest court rejected final bids for both men to escape the gallows.
NOVEMBER 14, 2016IndonesiaDEATH PENALTYINDONESIA: PAKISTANI DRUG SMUGGLER GETS DEATH SENTENCE
The Semarang District Court in Central Java sentenced Muhammad Riaz to death for smuggling 97
NOVEMBER 13, 2016IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: NINE EXECUTED OVER DRUG CHARGES, MURDER
Iranian authorities executed at least nine prisoners today.
NOVEMBER 5, 2016IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: FIVE PRISONERS EXECUTED
Iranian authorities reportedly executed at least five prisoners.
OCTOBER 30, 2016IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: JUSTICE MINISTER CALLS FOR REVISION OF DEATH PENALTY LAW
Iran's justice minister has said the country should execute fewer people and revise its death penalty laws, local media reported.
OCTOBER 27, 2016MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: INDIAN BEAUTICIAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR TRAFFICKING DRUGS
An Indian beautician has been sentenced to death in Malaysia for trafficking drugs, The Star reported.
OCTOBER 24, 2016IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: 4 EXECUTED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING, MURDER
Four prisoners were reportedly executed in Iran for drug trafficking, murder.
OCTOBER 21, 2016MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: FILIPINA SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
A Filipino woman was sentenced to death by the High Court in Malaysia for trafficking 2.285kg of
- OCTOBER 18, 2016IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: 14 PRISONERS EXECUTED ON DRUG CHARGES AT GHEZEL HESAR PRISON
According to close sources, Iranian authorities hanged 14 prisoners at Ghezel Hesar Prison in the morning.
- OCTOBER 14, 2016MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA: 24-YEAR-OLD THAI BAR GIRL SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING IN KL
A former bar worker in Thailand has been sentenced to death by the High Court in Kuala Lumpur after she
- OCTOBER 11, 2016MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA: FOREIGN DRUG TRAFFICKER SENTENCED TO DEATH
The High Court in Kuching (Malaysia) sentenced an Indonesian
SEPTEMBER 29, 2016Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: THREE PRISONERS EXECUTED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING, MURDER
three prisoners were executed in Saudi Arabia for drug trafficking and murder.
- SEPTEMBER 25, 2016IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: FIVE EXECUTED ON DRUG CHARGES
Five prisoners were reportedly hanged in Iran on drug charges between September 24 and 25.
- SEPTEMBER 21, 2016VietnamDEATH PENALTY
VIETNAM: 9 SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR HEROIN TRAFFICKING
A court in northern Vietnam sentenced nine people to death for heroin trafficking, state media said.
SEPTEMBER 15, 2016IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: PRISONER EXECUTED ON DRUG RELATED CHARGES
A prisoner who was executed on drug related charges has been identified. 34-year-old Kamran Maleki was
SEPTEMBER 12, 2016VietnamDEATH PENALTYVIETNAM: 2 MEN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR TRAFFICKING 7 KILOS OF HEROIN
A court in the central province of Nghe An sentenced two people to death and another to life in prison for
- AUGUST 27, 2016IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: 12 PRISONERS HANGED ON DRUG CHARGES
According to close sources, 12 prisoners were executed in Karaj Central Prison early morning, Iran Human Rights (IHR) reported.
AUGUST 9, 2016VietnamDEATH PENALTYVIETNAM: NINE MEN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR SMUGGLING 280KG OF HEROIN TO CHINA
A Lang Son court awarded death sentences to nine men and life to two others for smuggling a total of 280kg of heroin from the northern province to China in 2013 and 2014.
- AUGUST 1, 2016LaosDEATH PENALTY
the Vientiane People’s Court recently sentenced three people to death after they were arrested in connection with a drug deal involving 132,000 amphetamine pills, the Khuamsangob newspaper reported.
the Vientiane People’s Court recently sentenced three people to death after they were arrested in connection with a drug deal involving 132,000 amphetamine pills, the Khuamsangob newspaper reported.
JULY 29, 2016IndonesiaDEATH PENALTYINDONESIA: FOUR PRISONERS KILLED IN FIRST EXECUTIONS IN A YEAR
Indonesia has carried out its first executions in more than a year despite a string of legal appeals, diplomatic pressure and international condemnation.
- JULY 26, 2016IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: 250 EXECUTIONS SO FAR IN 2016
According to a report published by Iran Human Rights (IHR), Iranian authorities have executed at least 250
JULY 12, 2016VietnamDEATH PENALTYVIETNAM: LAO SIBLINGS SENTENCED TO DEATH, LIFE FOR SMUGGLING HEROIN
A court in the central province of Nghe An handed down a death penalty and a life sentence to two Lao
JUNE 30, 2016IndonesiaDEATH PENALTYINDONESIA: SUPREME COURT SENTENCES 5 TO DEATH FOR DRUG OFFENSES
The Supreme Court has added five new death row inmates to the Attorney General’s Office’s (AGO)
JUNE 29, 2016VietnamDEATH PENALTYVIETNAM: 73-YR-OLD AUSSIE WOMAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR TRAFFICKING DRUGS
A court in Ho Chi Minh City sentenced an elderly Australian national to death for trafficking 1.6kg of heroin
JUNE 28, 2016KuwaitDEATH PENALTYKUWAIT: GALLOWS FOR THREE INDIANS, WOMAN IN DRUG TRAFFICKING
The Court of Appeals presided over by Judge Ali Diran has upheld the verdict of the lower court and