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, 2016BruneiDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty is mandatory for murder
The death penalty is mandatory for murder
DECEMBER 21, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYUN 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 PENALTYIRANIAN 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, 2015Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: FOUR PRISONERS BEHEADED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING, MURDER
Four prisoners were beheaded in Saudi Arabia between November 8 and 9.
- 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, 2015United StatesDEATH 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 PENALTYUSING 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, 2015Saudi ArabiaDEATH 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, 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 16, 2015United StatesDEATH 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 2, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYEUROPEAN 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 PENALTYFRANCE 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, 2015MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: 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.