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 9, 2015MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: TWO INDONESIANS SPARED FROM DEATH PENALTY
Two Indonesians spared recently from the death penalty by a Malaysian court are slated to return soon to
MAY 6, 2015Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: SAUDI NATIONAL EXECUTED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Saudi Arabia carried out its 79th execution in 2015 in the northwestern region of Tabuk, reported AFP News.
MAY 5, 2015DEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: SIX FOREIGNERS BEHEADED
The Saudi Press Agency has disclosed that 6 foreigners were beheaded in Saudi Arabia between May 1st and 4.
- MAY 1, 2015Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Saudi Arabia beheaded a Pakistani convicted of drug smuggling, the 73rd execution in the kingdom so far
Saudi Arabia beheaded a Pakistani convicted of drug smuggling, the 73rd execution in the kingdom so far
APRIL 30, 2015Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: FOUR SAUDIS EXECUTED FOR MURDER AND DRUG TRAFFICKING
Four Saudis were executed between April 28 and 30 in three different cities, bringing to 72 the number of
APRIL 29, 2015IndonesiaDEATH PENALTYINDONESIA: EIGHT DRUG CONVICTS EXECUTED BY FIRING SQUAD
defying intense pressure from the international community, the government executed eight drug convicts at 12:30 a.m. on Nusakambangan prison island near Cilacap in Central Java.
APRIL 25, 2015ChinaDEATH PENALTYCHINA: DRUG SMUGGLER EXECUTED FOR SMUGGLING
A drug trafficker was executed in south China’s Guangdong Province following approval by the Supreme People’s Court.
APRIL 23, 2015VietnamDEATH PENALTYVIETNAM: LAOTIAN BROTHERS SENTENCED TO DEATH, LIFE TERM FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
A Vietnam court gave capital punishment and a life sentence to two Laotian brothers who illegally
APRIL 20, 2015SingaporeDEATH PENALTYSINGAPORE: TWO CONVICTED DRUG TRAFFICKERS ESCAPE GALLOWS, IMPRISONED FOR LIFE
Two convicted drug traffickers were spared the gallows today, four years after being sentenced to death.
- APRIL 6, 2015Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: SAUDI CITIZEN BEHEADED IN NAJRAN
Saudi Arabia beheaded one of its own citizens after sentencing him to death on charges related to drug trafficking.
- APRIL 3, 2015VietnamDEATH PENALTY
VIETNAM: BROTHERS GET DEATH PENALTIES FOR TRAFFICKING OVER 210 KG DRUGS
A court in the southern province of Binh Duong gave 2 brothers death penalties for trafficking over 210 kilograms of heroin in one of the province's biggest drug cases.
APRIL 2, 2015ChinaDEATH PENALTYCHINA: AUSTRALIAN MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DRUG SMUGGLING
A Queensland man has been sentenced to death in China after being caught trying to smuggle methamphetamine to Australia.
APRIL 1, 2015IndonesiaDEATH PENALTYINDONESIA: ANOTHER NIGERIAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Local media report in Jakarta said another Nigerian, Simon Ezeaputa, was sentenced to death in Indonesia for drug trafficking.
MARCH 26, 2015Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: MAN GETS DEATH PENALTY FOR HEROIN POSSESSION
A person found guilty for the possession of 303.5 grams of heroin was sentenced to death by the Colombo High Court today.
- MARCH 25, 2015Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: PAKISTANI NATIONAL AND SAUDI MAN BEHEADED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING AND MURDER
Saudi Arabia beheaded a Pakistani national and a Saudi man after sentencing them to death for drug trafficking and murder.
- MARCH 24, 2015VietnamDEATH PENALTY
VIETNAM PLANS TO REMOVE ROBBERY, DRUG CRIMES FROM DEATH PENALTY LIST
The Ministry of Justice has proposed abolishing the death penalty for a number of crimes including robbery and heroin smuggling, reducing it to life sentence at most.
- MARCH 11, 2015Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: THREE MEN EXECUTED FOR DRUG SMUGGLING
Three people were beheaded in Saudi Arabia for drug trafficking.
MARCH 9, 2015MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: APPEALS COURT UPHOLDS DEATH SENTENCE ON SWEDISH NATIONAL FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
The Court of Appeal in Putrajaya upheld the conviction and death sentence of a Swedish national for trafficking in 4.3 kilogrammes of methamphetamine.
- FEBRUARY 26, 2015Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: TWO BEHEADED IN RIYADH AND MEDINA
Saudi Arabia beheaded an Indian murderer and a Pakistani heroin trafficker, bringing to 34 the number of
- FEBRUARY 25, 2015Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: JORDANIAN NATIONAL BEHEADED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Saudi Arabia beheaded a Jordanian on charges of drug trafficking, bringing to 32 the number of executions
FEBRUARY 23, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: 21 PRISONERS HANGED DURING LAST 48 HOURS
21 prisoners were executed during last 48 hours in three different Iranian prisons, reported the Human Rights Activists News Agency in Iran (HRANA).
FEBRUARY 22, 2015IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: FOUR DRUG CONVICTS HANGED IN ARAK
four prisoners convicted of drug-related charges were hanged in the prison of Arak, reported the official
- FEBRUARY 10, 2015Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: SYRIAN EXECUTED FOR DRUG SMUGGLING
- FEBRUARY 5, 2015Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: PAKISTANI BEHEADED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Abdelghani Mohammed Akbar, from Pakistan, was beheaded in the Riyadh region after being convicted of
- JANUARY 27, 2015Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: THREE BEHEADINGS ON SAME DAY
Saudi Arabia carried out the second, third and fourth beheadings under the reign of King Salman just days
JANUARY 26, 2015DEATH PENALTYIRAN: 19 PRISONERS HANGED IN TWO DAYS
19 prisoners have been hanged in Iran in the latest days.
- JANUARY 24, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
seven prisoners with drug-related charges were executed in the courtyard of Minab prison, reported
seven prisoners with drug-related charges were executed in the courtyard of Minab prison, reported
- JANUARY 20, 2015IndonesiaDEATH PENALTY
SOUTHEAST ASIA: UN RIGHTS OFFICE APPEALS FOR HALT IN EXECUTIONS FOR DRUG CRIMES
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) expressed concern over
- JANUARY 19, 2015VietnamDEATH PENALTY
VIETNAM: 8 DRUG CONVICTS SENTENCED TO DEATH
A court in the northern province of Hoa Binh sentenced eight people to death and handed down life
JANUARY 19, 2015Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: PAKISTANI HEROIN SMUGGLER BEHEADED IN MECCA
A convicted Pakistani heroin smuggler, Yassir Arafat Munir Ahmed, was executed in the Muslim holy city