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
AUGUST 26, 2013DEATH PENALTYIRAN: 24 PEOPLE EXECUTED IN A WEEK, 17 FOR DRUG RELATED CRIMES
Between 20 and 26 August 2013, Iran executed at least twenty-four people,
- AUGUST 24, 2013IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN. ONE EXECUTION FOR DRUG SMUGGLING
One man charged of drug smuggling was hanged in the Iranian Ahvaz city prison of the Khuzestan province, Mehr news agency reported.
- AUGUST 22, 2013MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
the High Court in Muar, Malaysia, sentenced a 55-year-old rubber
the High Court in Muar, Malaysia, sentenced a 55-year-old rubber
- AUGUST 22, 2013IranDEATH PENALTY
At least twenty-five people were hanged in five different Iranian cities. According to state
At least twenty-five people were hanged in five different Iranian cities. According to state
- AUGUST 21, 2013ThailandDEATH PENALTY
a Thai drug smuggler has been sentenced to death in Vietnam
a Thai drug smuggler has been sentenced to death in Vietnam
- JULY 24, 2013ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINESE WOMAN GETS DEATH FOR TRYING TO SMUGGLE HEROIN OUT OF VIETNAM
A Chinese woman was sentenced to death in Hanoi for trying to smuggle nearly four
JULY 20, 2013IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: ONE PRISONER EXECUTED IN KHORAMABAD
One prisoner was hanged in the prison of Khoramabad (western Iran), reported the Iranian state
JULY 19, 2013GuineaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: GUINEAN MAN SENT TO THE GALLOWS FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
A Guinean trader was sentenced to death by hanging by the High Court in Malaysia after he
- JULY 16, 2013VietnamDEATH PENALTY
VIETNAM: 5 SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DRUG DEALING, ADDING TO DEATH ROW WHILE EXECUTIONS DELAYED
A Vietnamese court has sentenced five people to death for dealing heroin, lengthening the
JULY 15, 2013IndonesiaDEATH PENALTYINDONESIA: JAKARTA INMATE SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR RUNNING ECSTASY RING FROM JAIL
A convicted drug trafficker found guilty of organizing the shipment of some four tons of Ecstasy
JULY 9, 2013DEATH PENALTYIRAN: 21 PRISONERS HANGED
21 prisoners have been hanged in Iran in the last days.
JULY 9, 2013IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: THREE MORE HANGED IN ARDEBIL PRISON
three prisoners were hanged in the prison of Ardebil (Iran) early in the morning. According
- JULY 4, 2013IranDEATH PENALTY
Four prisoners sentenced to death in Iran for drug-related crimes were hanged at midnight
Four prisoners sentenced to death in Iran for drug-related crimes were hanged at midnight
JULY 4, 2013VietnamDEATH PENALTYVIETNAM: DEATH SENTENCE DELIVERED TO THREE DRUG DEALERS
Three drug dealers got the death penalty and two others from the same ring were sentenced
JULY 3, 2013ChinaDEATH PENALTYCHINA: FILIPINA DRUG MULE EXECUTED
A Filipina sentenced to death for drug trafficking in China was executed by lethal injection, the
- JULY 2, 2013MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
a single mother from Thailand was sentenced to death
a single mother from Thailand was sentenced to death
- JUNE 30, 2013IranDEATH PENALTY
Two prisoners were hanged in the prison of Khoramabad (Lorestan
Two prisoners were hanged in the prison of Khoramabad (Lorestan
- JUNE 30, 2013DEATH PENALTY
IRAN: FOUR HANGED FOR RAPE, DRUG TRAFFICKING
Four prisoners were hanged in two different Iranian cities.
JUNE 26, 2013IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TWO PRISONERS HANGED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
According to the Iranian state broadcasting, two prisoners were hanged in the central prison
JUNE 25, 2013ChinaDEATH PENALTYCHINA: 3 EXECUTED, 4 SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
three men were executed in south China's Hainan Province for trafficking methamphetamine,
JUNE 25, 2013ChinaDEATH PENALTYCHINA: 3 EXECUTED, 2 SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
two men, Yang Jiande and Yuan Tingchang, were executed in east China's Fujian Province for trafficking
- JUNE 14, 2013MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA: NIGERIAN MAN TO HANG FOR DRUG-TRAFFICKING
A Nigerian man was sentenced to death by hanging by the High Court in Malaysia after being
JUNE 11, 2013Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: SYRIAN BEHEADED FOR DRUG SMUGGLING
Saudi Arabia beheaded a Syrian man convicted of trying to smuggle narcotics into the kingdom, the interior ministry said. Hussam Al Rjoob had attempted to “smuggle a large amount of narcotic tablets,” the ministry said in a statement carried by SPA state
JUNE 2, 2013IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TWO PEOPLE HANGED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Two prisoners were hanged in the prison of Khoramabad (western Iran), reported the Iranian state media.
- MAY 30, 2013MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA: MOROCCAN MAN GETS DEATH FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
A Morrocan man was sentenced to death by the High Court in Malaysia for trafficking in
- MAY 30, 2013ChinaDEATH PENALTY
VIETNAM: SUPREME PEOPLE'S COURT CONFIRMS DEATH FOR CHINESE DRUG MULE
In Vietnam, the Supreme People’s Court upheld the death penalty handed down by a provincial
- MAY 24, 2013DelawareDEATH PENALTY
USA - Delaware. The Delaware Supreme Court reinstated the convictions and death sentence against Jermaine M. Wright
USA - Delaware. The Delaware Supreme Court reinstated the convictions and death sentence against Jermaine M. Wright
- MAY 24, 2013LaosDEATH PENALTY
LAOS: THREE DRUG TRAFFICKERS SENTENCED TO DEATH
- MAY 20, 2013Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Saudi authorities beheaded a Syrian man today after convicting him of drug trafficking, the
Saudi authorities beheaded a Syrian man today after convicting him of drug trafficking, the
MAY 9, 2013IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: FOUR PEOPLE HANGED IN SEMNAN PROVINCE
Four prisoners were hanged in Semnan Province (northern Iran) early this morning reported the Iranian state media.