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 8, 2015Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: TWO MEN EXECUTED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING AND MURDER
A Pakistani man convicted of drug trafficking and a Saudi national convicted of murder were beheaded in Riyadh, the interior ministry said.
JANUARY 8, 2015SingaporeDEATH PENALTYSINGAPORE: DRUG COURIER SPARED DEATH PENALTY FOR HELPING CNB IN PROBE
A Thai woman escaped the gallows in Singapore after the High Court sentenced her to life in prison for
JANUARY 7, 2015IndonesiaDEATH PENALTYINDONESIA: DEATH SENTENCE GRANTED TO TWO IRANIAN METH SMUGGLERS
The district court in Sukabumi, West Java, has given death sentence to two Iranian citizens after they were
- JANUARY 6, 2015Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI BEHEADS SYRIAN, 3RD EXECUTION IN 2015
Saudi authorities beheaded a Syrian convicted of drugs trafficking, the interior ministry said, in the third execution this year in the ultra-conservative kingdom.
- JANUARY 4, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: SEVENTEEN PRISONERS HANGED IN NEW YEAR’S FIRST FOUR DAYS
between 1 and 4 January 2015, seventeen prisoners were executed in five different cities, including three in public.
- JANUARY 1, 2015North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
North Korea denies holding any political prisoners.
North Korea denies holding any political prisoners.
- JANUARY 1, 2015BruneiDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty is mandatory for murder
The death penalty is mandatory for murder
- JANUARY 1, 2015OmanDEATH 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, 2015LaosDEATH 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, 2015SingaporeDEATH 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, 2015VietnamDEATH 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, 2015KuwaitDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty is provided for by laws based on the Sharia.
The death penalty is provided for by laws based on the Sharia.
- JANUARY 1, 2015Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Saudi Arabia follows a strict interpretation of Islamic law
Saudi Arabia follows a strict interpretation of Islamic law
- JANUARY 1, 2015IranDEATH PENALTY
In accordance with Article 4 of the Iranian Constitution...
In accordance with Article 4 of the Iranian Constitution...
- JANUARY 1, 2015IndonesiaDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty is applicable for murder..
The death penalty is applicable for murder...
- DECEMBER 26, 2014ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA: JAPANESE, KOREAN DRUG DEALERS SENTENCED
Six people nabbed in a cross-border drug trafficking case in China, including one Japanese and two
- DECEMBER 22, 2014MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA: MAID FROM THAILAND SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
A High Court in Malaysia sentenced a maid from Thailand to death after finding her guilty as charged for
DECEMBER 18, 2014United NationsDEATH PENALTYUN: FREEZE FUNDING OF IRAN COUNTER-NARCOTICS EFFORTS
The United Nations agency charged with combating illicit drug trafficking should withdraw its support for
DECEMBER 17, 2014Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: PAKISTANI HEROIN TRAFFICKER BEHEADED
Saudi Arabia beheaded a Pakistani for heroin smuggling, the interior ministry said, in the kingdom’s latest
- DECEMBER 15, 2014MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA: THREE SENT TO THE GALLOWS FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Three men were sentenced to death by a High Court in Malaysia for trafficking almost a kilogram of shabu
DECEMBER 11, 2014Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: PAKISTANI EXECUTED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Saudi Arabia beheaded a Pakistani for heroin smuggling, bringing to 10 the number of people from his
DECEMBER 10, 2014IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: A WOMAN AND 3 OTHER PRISONERS HANGED IN KARAJ AND GHAZVIN
Iran regime hanged 4 prisoners including one woman in Karaj and Ghazvin. Three prisoners were hanged in
- DECEMBER 9, 2014Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA CARRIES OUT 77TH EXECUTION OF 2014
Saudi Arabia beheaded a convicted Saudi drug trafficker, the 77th state execution in the oil-rich kingdom
- DECEMBER 4, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN CONSIDERS ENDING DEATH PENALTY FOR DRUG OFFENSES
Mohammad Javad Larijani, the secretary of Iran’s Human Rights Council, said that Iran is looking to end
DECEMBER 4, 2014IndonesiaDEATH PENALTYINDONESIA: PRESIDENT ORDERS EXECUTION OF DEATH ROW CONVICTS
President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo ordered the execution of five death-row drug convicts this month, a move
- NOVEMBER 28, 2014SingaporeDEATH PENALTY
Mohd Jeefrey Jamil, a 49-year-old drug courier has been given the death penalty after he failed to receive a
Mohd Jeefrey Jamil, a 49-year-old drug courier has been given the death penalty after he failed to receive a
- NOVEMBER 27, 2014Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Saudi Arabia beheaded a Pakistani for heroin smuggling. Mohammed Rahman Mohammed Asghar was
Saudi Arabia beheaded a Pakistani for heroin smuggling. Mohammed Rahman Mohammed Asghar was
- NOVEMBER 25, 2014Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI BEHEADS 8TH PAKISTANI SINCE MID-OCTOBER
A Pakistani became the eighth person from the country to be beheaded in Saudi Arabia for drug trafficking
- NOVEMBER 25, 2014MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA: NIGERIAN MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
A 35 year old Nigerian man was sentenced to death by a Malaysian High Court for trafficking in 251.66 gm
- NOVEMBER 20, 2014Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Saudi Arabia beheaded a Turkish man convicted of drug trafficking, the interior ministry said
Saudi Arabia beheaded a Turkish man convicted of drug trafficking, the interior ministry said