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
- NOVEMBER 6, 2015United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - FBI Crime Report Shows Murder Rates Remain Higher in Death Penalty States.
USA - FBI Crime Report Shows Murder Rates Remain Higher in Death Penalty States.
NOVEMBER 6, 2015DEATH PENALTYUSA: FBI CRIME REPORT SHOWS MURDER RATES REMAIN HIGHER IN DEATH PENALTY STATES
The U.S. Department of Justice released its annual FBI Uniform Crime Report for 2014, reporting no change in the national murder rate since 2013.
OCTOBER 27, 2015Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: PAKISTANI HEROIN TRAFFICKER EXECUTED
Saudi Arabia executed a convicted Pakistani heroin smuggler, bringing the number of people put to death this year to 138.
OCTOBER 14, 2015Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: WELE SUDA SENTENCED TO DEATH IN HEROIN CASE
Notorious drug dealer Wele Suda was sentenced to death by the Colombo High Court for having drugs in
- OCTOBER 7, 2015United NationsDEATH PENALTY
USING THE DEATH PENALTY TO FIGHT DRUG CRIMES VIOLATES INTERNATIONAL LAW, UN RIGHTS EXPERTS WARN
“Executions for drug crimes amount to a violation of international law and are unlawful killings,” the United
SEPTEMBER 30, 2015MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: IRANIAN WOMAN, MOTHER SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
An Iranian woman and her mother were sentenced to death by the High Court in Malaysia for trafficking in
- SEPTEMBER 19, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
two men accused of drug smuggling were hanged in Rasht's central prison, reported the
two men accused of drug smuggling were hanged in Rasht's central prison, reported the
SEPTEMBER 15, 2015IndonesiaDEATH PENALTYINDONESIA: MALAYSIAN GIVEN DEATH SENTENCE FOR DRUG SMUGGLING
The Pekanbaru district court sentenced a Malaysian to death for smuggling 46.5 kilograms of
SEPTEMBER 7, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: 11 PRISONERS EXECUTED FOR DRUG OFFENCES
Iranian authorities hanged 11 prisoners charged with drug offences early in the morning, according to the Iran Human Rights (IHR) sources in Ghezelhesar prison of Karaj (west of Tehran).
SEPTEMBER 1, 2015DEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: TWO PAKISTANIS EXECUTED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
two Pakistani citizens were beheaded in the last days in Saudi Arabia for drug trafficking, bringing to 129
- AUGUST 30, 2015Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Saudi authorities executed a Pakistani man for attempting to smuggle drugs into the ultra-conservative
Saudi authorities executed a Pakistani man for attempting to smuggle drugs into the ultra-conservative
- AUGUST 29, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: MAN EXECUTED FOR DRUG-RELATED OFFENCES
Yousef Baghizadeh, a prisoner convicted of drug-related offences, was hanged in Khoram Abad Central
- AUGUST 27, 2015Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Saudi Arabia executed a Pakistani man convicted of smuggling drugs into the ultra-conservative kingdom,
Saudi Arabia executed a Pakistani man convicted of smuggling drugs into the ultra-conservative kingdom,
AUGUST 4, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: FOUR PRISONERS HANGED FOR DRUG OFFENCES
Four prisoners were hanged in the prison of Yazd (Central Iran), reported the official website of the Iranian
- AUGUST 3, 2015Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: FIVE PRISONERS BEHEADED FOR MURDER, DRUG TRAFFICKING
Saudi Arabia beheaded five prisoners between July 29 and August 3, bringing to 110 the total number of
- JULY 31, 2015Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: PAKISTANI HEROIN SMUGGLER EXECUTED
Saudi Arabia beheaded a convicted Pakistani heroin trafficker.
JULY 16, 2015DEATH PENALTYUSA: PRESIDENT OBAMA VISITS FEDERAL PRISON, EXTENDING HIS CAMPAIGN FOR REFORM IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. HE IS THE FIRST SITTING PRESIDENT TO SEE THE INSIDE A FEDERAL PRISON FIRST HAND
The president visited the El Reno Federal Correctional Institution in Oklahoma, a complex which includes sections of buildings separated by large green yards and barbed wire fences.
- JULY 16, 2015United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - President Obama Visits Federal Prison, extending his campaign for reform in the criminal justice system.
USA - President Obama Visits Federal Prison, extending his campaign for reform in the criminal justice system.
- JULY 2, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
EUROPEAN STATES CONTINUE TO FUND DRUG HANGINGS AS IRAN EXECUTIONS SPIKE
New analysis released today by NGO Iran Human Rights shows that over two thirds of the 570 people so far executed in Iran this year were sentenced to death on drugs charges.
JUNE 29, 2015SingaporeDEATH PENALTYSINGAPORE: HEROIN TRAFFICKER FAILS IN ATTEMPT TO ESCAPE DEATH PENALTY
Kester Ng Wei Ren, a heroin trafficker who has been on death row for more than four years, failed in his
- JUNE 23, 2015FranceDEATH PENALTY
FRANCE DOING EVERYTHING IT CAN TO SAVE SERGE FROM EXECUTION
JUNE 10, 2015Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: PAKISTANI DRUG SMUGGLER BEHEADED
Saudi Arabia beheaded a Pakistani convicted of heroin smuggling.
- JUNE 8, 2015DEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA: ASIAN CONFERENCE ON DEATH PENALTY
Death penalty and drugs is the main topic to be discussed at the Regional Congress organized by Ensemble
- JUNE 3, 2015Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA BEHEADS TWO NATIONALS BRINGING EXECUTION TOLL TO 94 IN 2015
Saudi Arabia says it has beheaded two more of its nationals, bringing to 94 the number of such executions so far this year across the Persian Gulf kingdom.
MAY 31, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: THREE EXECUTIONS, ONE HANGED IN PUBLIC
three prisoners were hanged in two different Iranian cities, reported the Iranian state media.
MAY 23, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: 1 EXECUTION, 3 PUBLIC FLOGGINGS
One prisoner was hanged in the prison of Ardebil (Northwestern Iran) in the morning, reported the Iranian state media.
- MAY 22, 2015IndonesiaDEATH PENALTY
INDONESIA: COUPLE SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR SELLING DRUGS
The Pinrang District Court of South Sulawesi has sentenced a couple, Amir alias Dawang, 45, and his wife Maemunah, 43, to death for selling drugs.
MAY 19, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: AT LEAST FIVE PEOPLE EXECUTED
Five prisoners were hanged in two Iranian cities in the morning, reported Iranian state media.
MAY 17, 2015Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: PAKISTANI BEHEADED, 84 EXECUTIONS IN 2015
Saudi Arabia beheaded a Pakistani sentenced to death for drug smuggling, bringing to 84 the number of executions in the ultra-conservative kingdom this year, the interior ministry said.
MAY 14, 2015MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: NIGERIAN FEMALE STUDENT SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
A female Nigerian student was sent to the gallows by the Malaysian High Court after she was found guilty of