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
- MARCH 9, 2014United Arab EmiratesDEATH PENALTY
UAE: PAKISTANI MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
A 30-year-old Pakistani man in Dubai (UAE) was sentenced to death for trafficking four kilogrammes of
FEBRUARY 18, 2014IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TWENTY PRISONERS HANGED IN FOUR DIFFERENT CITIES
twenty prisoners were hanged in four different Iranian cities.
- FEBRUARY 17, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
Mehr news agency reported about the execution of two prisoners in the prison of Zanjan (north-west of
Mehr news agency reported about the execution of two prisoners in the prison of Zanjan (north-west of
FEBRUARY 17, 2014DEATH PENALTYIRAN: FOUR PRISONERS HANGED
According to the state run Mehr news agency two prisoners were hanged in the prison of Noshahr
FEBRUARY 11, 2014VietnamDEATH PENALTYVIETNAM: UNITED NATIONS TO FREEZE COUNTER-NARCOTICS AID
three leading anti-death penalty groups have appealed to the United Nations to freeze counter-narcotics
FEBRUARY 6, 2014IranDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: THREE IRANIANS SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Three Iranians were sentenced to death at a High Court in Malaysia today for trafficking a total of 2.324
- FEBRUARY 5, 2014Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Mohammed Asharaf Ramadan, a Pakistani national, was beheaded in Riyadh over alleged charges of drug
Mohammed Asharaf Ramadan, a Pakistani national, was beheaded in Riyadh over alleged charges of drug
JANUARY 20, 2014VietnamDEATH PENALTYVIETNAM: 30 PEOPLE SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING IN SINGLE TRIAL
A Vietnamese court sentenced 30 people to death for trafficking heroin at the conclusion of a mass trial.
- JANUARY 17, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: PRISONER HANGED IN YASOOJ
A 45 years-old prisoner was executed on charge of drug trafficking in Yasooj prison, Iran.
JANUARY 15, 2014IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: SIX PRISONERS HANGED FOR DRUG RELATED CHARGES
Six prisoners were hanged in two different Iranian prisons early this morning. The state run Iranian news
JANUARY 15, 2014DEATH PENALTYIRAN: 22 PRISONERS EXECUTED
According to reliable sources in Iran 12 prisoners were hanged on January 14 in the Rajaishahr prison of
- JANUARY 15, 2014ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA: TWO MEN HANGED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
China executed two men in the Hainan Province for trafficking over 5 kilos of drugs. Li Yongxin and Wei
- JANUARY 14, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
Iranian state media reported about execution of a prisoner in the prison of Ardebil (northwestern
Iranian state media reported about execution of a prisoner in the prison of Ardebil (northwestern
- JANUARY 14, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
According to the state run Iranian news agency Fars, five prisoners were hanged in the Adelabad
According to the state run Iranian news agency Fars, five prisoners were hanged in the Adelabad
- JANUARY 14, 2014VietnamDEATH PENALTY
VIETNAM: 3 SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR TRAFFICKING MORE THAN 551 POUNDS OF HEROIN
A Vietnam court sentenced three men to death for illegally trafficking more than 551 pounds of heroin
JANUARY 14, 2014Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: TWO PAKISTANIS BEHEADED IN YEAR’S FIRST EXECUTIONS
Saudi authorities beheaded two Pakistanis for drug smuggling in the kingdom’s first executions of the year,
- JANUARY 6, 2014SingaporeDEATH PENALTY
SINGAPORE: SECOND DRUG TRAFFICKER ON DEATH ROW ESCAPES GALLOWS
A 29-year-old Singaporean man today become the second drug trafficker on death row to be re-sentenced
- JANUARY 1, 2014North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
North Korea denies holding any political prisoners.
North Korea denies holding any political prisoners.
- JANUARY 1, 2014BruneiDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty is mandatory for murder
The death penalty is mandatory for murder
- JANUARY 1, 2014LaosDEATH 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, 2014SingaporeDEATH 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, 2014MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
In Malaysia capital crimes include murder...
In Malaysia capital crimes include murder...
- JANUARY 1, 2014United Arab EmiratesDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty is rarely applied in the UAE...
The death penalty is rarely applied in the UAE...
- JANUARY 1, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
In accordance with Article 4 of the Iranian Constitution...
In accordance with Article 4 of the Iranian Constitution...
- DECEMBER 31, 2013Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: A PAKISTANI MAN EXECUTED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Saudi authorities beheaded a Pakistani man after he was convicted of smuggling drugs into the kingdom, the
- DECEMBER 17, 2013IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN DEATH PENALTY DEBATED BY EU DELEGATION IN TEHRAN
A European Parliament delegation has visited Tehran to discuss a host of issues, including human
- DECEMBER 17, 2013IranDEATH PENALTY
two prisoners, identified as A. Gh. and A. K., were hanged in Semnan central prison for drug trafficking,
two prisoners, identified as A. Gh. and A. K., were hanged in Semnan central prison for drug trafficking,
- DECEMBER 17, 2013Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Saudi authorities beheaded a Syrian man convicted of smuggling drugs. Hasan Mahmud al-Bash was
Saudi authorities beheaded a Syrian man convicted of smuggling drugs. Hasan Mahmud al-Bash was
- DECEMBER 15, 2013IranDEATH PENALTY
a 46 year old prisoner identified as Sh. Ch. was executed in Qazvin for drug trafficking, reported
a 46 year old prisoner identified as Sh. Ch. was executed in Qazvin for drug trafficking, reported
DECEMBER 13, 2013IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: A PRISONER IS HANGED IN GACHSARAN
An accused of drug trafficking prisoner was executed in Gachsaran, Iran.