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
- APRIL 19, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
a prisoner was executed in the central prison of Zahedan on charge of carrying and storing drugs, reported
a prisoner was executed in the central prison of Zahedan on charge of carrying and storing drugs, reported
- MARCH 26, 2014PakistanDEATH PENALTY
PAKISTAN: DRUG SMUGGLING CASES, 70% OF DEATH SENTENCES QUASHED BY HIGHER COURTS
Seventy per cent of the death sentences awarded by the country’s lower judiciary on drug smuggling
MARCH 19, 2014IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN AGAINST ABOLITION OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT FOR DRUG SMUGGLERS
Minister of Interior Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli said Iran is against abolishing the death penalty for drugs smugglers, the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported.
MARCH 12, 2014IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: 331 PEOPLE EXECUTED FOR DRUGS OFFENCES IN 2013 WITH UN AND EUROPEAN SUPPORT
Iran executed 331 people for drug-related charges in 2013, a new report published today by the non-profit
MARCH 11, 2014IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: U.N. ANTI-DRUGS CHIEF PRAISES IRAN FIGHT DESPITE EXECUTIONS
the U.N. anti-drugs chief praised Iran's fight against narcotics trafficking despite a surge in executions in the country, many of people convicted of drug-related offences.
MARCH 9, 2014United Arab EmiratesDEATH PENALTYUAE: 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, 2014IranDEATH 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, 2014MalaysiaDEATH 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 PENALTY
VIETNAM: 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, 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 15, 2014IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: 22 PRISONERS EXECUTED
According to reliable sources in Iran 12 prisoners were hanged on January 14 in the Rajaishahr prison of
- 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, 2014PakistanDEATH 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, 2013PakistanDEATH 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