The death penalty for drug offences
Archive theme
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
APRIL 29, 2016VietnamDEATH PENALTYVIETNAM: SINGAPORE MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR TRAFFICKING HEROIN
A court in Ho Chi Minh City sentenced a Singaporean man to death for trafficking 2.5 kilograms of heroin.
APRIL 28, 2016IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TWO EXECUTED FOR DRUG OFFENCES
Two prisoners were hanged in the morning in the Central Prison of Karaj (west of Tehran).
- APRIL 25, 2016VietnamDEATH PENALTY
VIETNAM: THAI WOMAN, 3 VIETNAMESE SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
A court in Hanoi sentenced three Vietnamese and a Thai woman to death for drug trafficking.
- APRIL 19, 2016IranDEATH PENALTY
Iran hanged four prisoners in Orumieh (Urmia) Prison for drugs-related crimes.
Iran hanged four prisoners in Orumieh (Urmia) Prison for drugs-related crimes.
APRIL 19, 2016United NationsDEATH PENALTYUN: WORLD'S NATIONS URGED TO SHIFT FOCUS ON DRUG PROBLEM
World governments at a UN meeting on the global drug problem were urged to move away from repression, abolish the death penalty for drug offenses and step up treatment.
APRIL 18, 2016IndonesiaDEATH PENALTYINDONESIA: PRESIDENT DEFENDS DEATH PENALTY FOR DRUG CRIMES
Indonesia's president is defending his country's use of the death penalty for drug offenses, arguing that drug
- APRIL 14, 2016IranDEATH PENALTY
UN: ZEID CALLS FOR AN END TO EXECUTIONS FOR DRUG OFFENCES IN IRAN
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein appealed to Iran to halt executions for
APRIL 14, 2016IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: 3 WOMEN EXECUTED ON THE SAME DAY
Three women were executed on the same day in Iran.
- APRIL 9, 2016IndiaDEATH PENALTY
On 9 April 2016, for the first time a court in Bengal awarded death sentence under the Narcotic Drugs and
On 9 April 2016, for the first time a court in Bengal awarded death sentence under the Narcotic Drugs and
MARCH 8, 2016Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: CITIZEN EXECUTED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Saudi Arabia executed one of its nationals convicted of drug trafficking, bringing to 71 the number of locals
MARCH 8, 2016KuwaitDEATH PENALTYKUWAIT: FOUR PEOPLE SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
The Criminal Court in Kuwait has sentenced four people to death – three Indian men and a Sri Lankan
MARCH 2, 2016IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: SUPREME COURT CONFIRMS 100 DEATH SENTENCES FOR GHEZEL HESAR PRISONERS
At least 100 prisoners in Ghezel Hesar Prison (in Karaj, northern Iran) are in imminent danger of execution after their death sentences for drug offenses were reportedly confirmed in the last month by Iran's Supreme Court.
FEBRUARY 17, 2016Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: THREE CONVICTED DRUG TRAFFICKERS BEHEADED
Saudi Arabia beheaded one of its citizens and two Yemeni nationals on charges of drug trafficking, bringing to 63 the number of decapitations in the kingdom since the start of year.
- FEBRUARY 8, 2016Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: EGYPTIAN EXECUTED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Saudi Arabia executed an Egyptian man convicted of smuggling drugs, the interior ministry said, bringing to 59 the number of convicts put to death this year.
JANUARY 28, 2016ChinaDEATH PENALTYCHINA: TAJIK NATIONAL EXECUTED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Tajik Foreign Ministry officials told RFE/RL that Hasan Yusufov, 51, was executed early in the morning.
- JANUARY 12, 2016IranDEATH PENALTY
According to the human rights group HRANA, four prisoners were hanged at Karaj's central prison
According to the human rights group HRANA, four prisoners were hanged at Karaj's central prison
JANUARY 11, 2016VietnamDEATH PENALTYVIETNAM: TWO PERSONS SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DRUG SMUGGLING
The People's Court in the northern province of Lang Son issued two death sentences, two life sentences and
- JANUARY 1, 2016BruneiDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty is mandatory for murder
The death penalty is mandatory for murder
- JANUARY 1, 2016North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
North Korea denies holding any political prisoners.
North Korea denies holding any political prisoners.
- JANUARY 1, 2016OmanDEATH 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, 2016VietnamDEATH PENALTY
Capital punishment remains for crimes
Capital punishment remains for crimes such as murder, armed robbery, drug trafficking, and sexual abuse of children.
- JANUARY 1, 2016SingaporeDEATH 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, 2016LaosDEATH 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, 2016MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
In Malaysia capital crimes include murder...
In Malaysia capital crimes include murder...
- JANUARY 1, 2016IndonesiaDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty is applicable for murder..
The death penalty is applicable for murder...
- JANUARY 1, 2016IranDEATH PENALTY
In accordance with Article 4 of the Iranian Constitution...
In accordance with Article 4 of the Iranian Constitution...
- DECEMBER 21, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
UN DOUBLES IRAN DRUG FUNDING DESPITE EXECUTION SURGE
DECEMBER 20, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: SEVEN PEOPLE HANGED IN ONE DAY, TWO OF THE EXECUTIONS IN PUBLIC
At least seven prisoners were hanged in Iran. Two of the executions were carried out in public.
- NOVEMBER 13, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
IRANIAN PRESIDENT CLAIMS MASS HANGINGS HELP EUROPE, ABOLITION WOULD ‘BE DANGEROUS’
In a rare public comment on the death penalty since he took office in June 2013, President Hassan Rouhani claimed Iran has hanged hundreds of drug offenders to prevent drug trafficking into Europe.
NOVEMBER 9, 2015DEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: FOUR PRISONERS BEHEADED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING, MURDER
Four prisoners were beheaded in Saudi Arabia between November 8 and 9.