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
DECEMBER 13, 2013VietnamDEATH PENALTYVIETNAM: 5 SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
A court in central Vietnam sentenced five people, including four women, to death and another
- DECEMBER 10, 2013Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
a Pakistani man was executed in the capital Riyadh for smuggling drugs into the kingdom, the
a Pakistani man was executed in the capital Riyadh for smuggling drugs into the kingdom, the
DECEMBER 8, 2013Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: PAKISTANI DRUG TRAFFICKER BEHEADED
A Pakistani man, identified as Mohammed Zayer Khan Qol, was beheaded after he was found
- NOVEMBER 29, 2013ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA: 4 DRUG DEALERS SENTENCED TO DEATH
A court in the eastern Chinese coastal city of Qingdao handed down death sentences
NOVEMBER 27, 2013IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: 4 PRISONERS HANGED IN BANDAR ABBAS
Four prisoners were hanged in the southern Iranian city of Bandar Abbas today, reported the
NOVEMBER 26, 2013Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: PAKISTANI BEHEADED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Saudi authorities beheaded a Pakistani man convicted of smuggling drugs to the ultra-conservative
NOVEMBER 26, 2013IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TEN MEN AND ONE WOMAN EXECUTED IN KARAJ
According to reliable sources in Iran eleven prisoners, among them one woman, were
NOVEMBER 21, 2013IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TWO WOMEN AND FOUR MEN HANGED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Six prisoners among them two women were hanged in the prison of Yazd (Central Iran), reported the official site of the Iranian Judiciary in Yazd.
- NOVEMBER 18, 2013IranDEATH PENALTY
UNITED KINGDOM: PRESSURE ON BRITISH GOVERNMENT TO END SUPPORT FOR COUNTER-NARCOTICS PROGRAMS IN IRAN AND PAKISTAN
The legal and human rights charity Reprieve has called on the United Kingdom to follow Ireland’s
- NOVEMBER 17, 2013IndonesiaDEATH PENALTY
INDONESIA: PAKISTANI DRUG TRAFFICKER EXECUTED
A Pakistani drug trafficker was executed by firing squad at a South Tangerang cemetery early in the morning in the fifth death sentence carried out by Indonesian authorities since the government announced a renewed push to execute those convicted of capit
- NOVEMBER 14, 2013SingaporeDEATH PENALTY
SINGAPORE LIFTS DEATH PENALTY ON DRUG TRAFFICKER FOR FIRST TIME
Singapore lifted for the first time the death penalty given to a drug trafficker, commuting his sentence
NOVEMBER 8, 2013MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: 3 UZBEKS GET DEATH FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Three Uzbek friends were sentenced to death in Malaysia for trafficking more than 10kg of
- NOVEMBER 6, 2013Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Jaafar Ghulam Ali, a Pakistani national, was beheaded in Qatif Province for drug trafficking.
Jaafar Ghulam Ali, a Pakistani national, was beheaded in Qatif Province for drug trafficking.
- NOVEMBER 6, 2013IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: FIVE PRISONERS HANGED FOR DRUG RELATED CRIMES
Five prisoners were hanged in the prison of Jiroft (Kerman province, southeastern Iran), reported
- NOVEMBER 4, 2013IranDEATH PENALTY
six prisoners were hanged in Bam and Kerman
six prisoners were hanged in Bam and Kerman
NOVEMBER 4, 2013DEATH PENALTYIRAN: NINE PEOPLE HANGED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING, MURDER
According to the Iranian State Broadcasting six prisoners were hanged in the prisons of Kerman and Bam
- OCTOBER 25, 2013NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
a Nigerian has been sentenced to death for drug trafficking in Vietnam
a Nigerian has been sentenced to death for drug trafficking in Vietnam
- OCTOBER 16, 2013ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA: 4 SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DRUG OFFENCES
A court in northeast China's Jilin Province sentenced four drug dealers to death.
OCTOBER 4, 2013MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: THREE NIGERIAN STUDENTS SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Three Nigerian college students were sentenced to death by a High Court in Malaysia for trafficking
- OCTOBER 1, 2013DEATH PENALTY
IRAN: ONE WOMAN AND FIVE MEN EXECUTED
Six prisoners were hanged in three different Iranian prisons, reported the Iranian state media.
- OCTOBER 1, 2013IranDEATH PENALTY
Three prisoners were hanged in the prison of Ardebil (north-western Iran) , reported
Three prisoners were hanged in the prison of Ardebil (north-western Iran) , reported
OCTOBER 1, 2013Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: CAPITAL PUNISHMENT OF 8 PAKISTANIS SUSPENDED
Saudi Arabia, on the request of Pakistan embassy, has suspended the capital punishment
- SEPTEMBER 30, 2013IranDEATH PENALTY
a free trip to Malaysia has become the final destination
a free trip to Malaysia has become the final destination
SEPTEMBER 25, 2013VietnamDEATH PENALTYVIETNAM: THREE DRUG TRAFFICKERS SENTENCED TO DEATH
The Ho Chi Minh City City People's Court sentenced three members of a drug trafficking ring to death.
SEPTEMBER 21, 2013DEATH PENALTYIRAN: 17 PRISONERS - THREE WOMEN AMONG THEM - EXECUTED
According to the official website of the Iranian Judiciary in Qazvin, four prisoners were hanged in the prison of Qazvin.
- SEPTEMBER 19, 2013IranDEATH PENALTY
According to the official website of the Iranian Judiciary in Yazd (central Iran) eight prisoners
According to the official website of the Iranian Judiciary in Yazd (central Iran) eight prisoners
- SEPTEMBER 18, 2013United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - 160,000 inmates have life sentences; of those 50,000 are ineligible for parole
USA - 160,000 inmates have life sentences; of those 50,000 are ineligible for parole
SEPTEMBER 18, 2013DEATH PENALTYUSA: USE OF LIFE SENTENCES INCREASED
One in every nine inmates incarcerated across the country is now serving a life sentence
- SEPTEMBER 13, 2013GermanyDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA: HIGH COURT SENTENCES GERMAN TO DEATH FOR DRUGS
In Malaysia, a high court outside the capital Kuala Lumpur found Bebou Akpo
- SEPTEMBER 10, 2013IranDEATH PENALTY
At least 6 prisoners, including a woman, were hanged on charge of drug trafficking in Orumieh’s
At least 6 prisoners, including a woman, were hanged on charge of drug trafficking in Orumieh’s