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 23, 2013Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Saudi Arabia beheaded an Afghan man convicted of drug trafficking, the Interior Ministry announced.
Saudi Arabia beheaded an Afghan man convicted of drug trafficking, the Interior Ministry announced.
JANUARY 9, 2013IndonesiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: INDONESIAN WOMAN TO HANG FOR TRAFFICKING IN DRUGS
An Indonesian woman was sentenced to death by the Shah Alam High Court in Malaysia for
- JANUARY 3, 2013United Arab EmiratesDEATH PENALTY
UAE: MULE’S DEATH PENALTY COMMUTED TO JAIL TERM
The Abu Dhabi court of appeal has commuted the death sentence that was handed
JANUARY 2, 2013IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: ONE PRISONER HANGED IN YASOUJ
One prisoner was hanged in the prison of Yasouj (southern Iran).
- JANUARY 1, 2013BruneiDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty is mandatory for murder
The death penalty is mandatory for murder
- JANUARY 1, 2013IranDEATH PENALTY
In accordance with Article 4 of the Iranian Constitution...
In accordance with Article 4 of the Iranian Constitution...
- JANUARY 1, 2013MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
In Malaysia capital crimes include murder...
In Malaysia capital crimes include murder...
- JANUARY 1, 2013SingaporeDEATH 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, 2013LaosDEATH 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, 2013SingaporeDEATH PENALTYSINGAPORE: 32 ON DEATH ROW CAN SEEK REVIEW OF SENTENCES
They were facing certain death by hanging, but may now get a lifeline as changes to the
DECEMBER 26, 2012ChinaDEATH PENALTYCHINA: COURT UPHOLD DEATH SENTENCES FOR MYANMAR DRUG LORD
A Chinese court rejected appeals from six people, including the Myanmar drug lord
DECEMBER 19, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: SEVEN PEOPLE HANGED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING, RAPE
Seven convicted people were hanged in Iran's Esfahan prison, Kayhan newspaper reported.
- DECEMBER 14, 2012VietnamDEATH PENALTY
VIETNAM: FIVE DRUG TRAFFICKERS SENTENCED TO DEATH
In Vietnam, the People’s Court of the mountainous northern province of Son La sentenced five members of a massive drug trafficking ring to death following a 10-day trial.
DECEMBER 13, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: TWO IRANIAN DRUG TRAFFICKERS GETS DEATH SENTENCE
Two Iranian men were sentenced to death by the High Court in the State of Selangor
- DECEMBER 12, 2012MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
EU ENVOY: MALAYSIA MOVING TOWARDS ABOLITION OF DEATH SENTENCE
Malaysia has seen positive developments in the move towards abolishing the death penalty
DECEMBER 10, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: PRISONER HANGED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
One prisoner was hanged in the prison of Semnan (northern Iran) early this morning.
DECEMBER 8, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: THREE PRISONERS HANGED IN ZAHEDAN
In Iran, three prisoners convicted of drug-related charges were hanged in the prison of Zahedan early in the morning, the news agency IRNA reported.
- DECEMBER 6, 2012MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA: TRIO SENT TO GALLOWS FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Three men were sent to the gallows by the High Court in the Malaysian state of Penang
NOVEMBER 16, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TWO HANGED PUBLICLY FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
According to the official website of the Iranian judiciary in Fars Province two prisoners identified as "A. M." convicted of carrying 85 kilograms of opium and 10 kilograms of concentrated heroin, and "S. S." convicted of carrying 2800 grams of concentrat
- NOVEMBER 9, 2012DEATH PENALTY
IRAN: EIGHT PEOPLE EXECUTED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Eight people have been hanged in Iran in the last days for drug trafficking.
- NOVEMBER 8, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
Seven prisoners were hanged in Shiraz, Iran, five of them in public, Fars reported.
Seven prisoners were hanged in Shiraz, Iran, five of them in public, Fars reported.
- NOVEMBER 7, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN HANGS 10 CONVICTED DRUG TRAFFICKERS
Iran executed 10 drug traffickers in a prison in Tehran, a statement on the website of the prosecutor's
- NOVEMBER 7, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
According to the official website of the Iranian judiciary in the province of Khorrasan
According to the official website of the Iranian judiciary in the province of Khorrasan
NOVEMBER 7, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: FIVE HANGED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Iranian state media reported a total of five people were executed in Shiraz and Zarand (Kerman Province) early this morning.
- NOVEMBER 6, 2012ChinaDEATH PENALTY
four members of a gang accused of masterminding the murder...
four members of a gang accused of masterminding the murder...
- OCTOBER 31, 2012PhilippinesDEATH PENALTY
VIETNAM: FILIPINA DRUG MULE SENTENCED TO DEATH
Vietnam sentenced a 61-year-old Filipina to death after she was caught smuggling
- OCTOBER 22, 2012DEATH PENALTY
IRAN: 13 PEOPLE HANGED IN TWO DAYS
13 people have been hanged in Iran for drug trafficking and terrorism, media reported.
OCTOBER 18, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TWO PRISONERS EXECUTED ON DRUG-RELATED CHARGES
Two prisoners were hanged in the Shahroud Prison (northern Iran) early in the morning.
- OCTOBER 16, 2012United Arab EmiratesDEATH PENALTY
ABU DHABI: DRUG DEALER SENTENCED TO DEATH
In UAE, an Abu Dhabi criminal court sentenced an Asian man to death after he was
OCTOBER 15, 2012SingaporeDEATH PENALTYSINGAPORE: 34 ON DEATH ROW CAN REVIEW CASES UNDER LAW CHANGES
All 34 people now on death row in Singapore will get a chance to have their cases reviewed