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
OCTOBER 7, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: FIVE PRISONERS HANGED IN SHIRAZ
Five prisoners were hanged in Shiraz (southern Iran), reported the Iranian state media.
OCTOBER 2, 2012Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: SYRIAN BEHEADED FOR DRUG SMUGGLING
Saudi Arabia beheaded a Syrian for drug smuggling, the interior ministry announced
SEPTEMBER 28, 2012IndonesiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: TWO WOMEN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DRUGS
Malaysian courts sentenced two women, a Filipino and Indonesian, to death in separate
- SEPTEMBER 27, 2012IndonesiaDEATH PENALTY
INDONESIA: BRITISH MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH
An Indonesian court has sentenced a British citizen to death for smuggling 6.5kg of crystal
SEPTEMBER 24, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: THREE AFGHAN CITIZENS HANGED
Three Afghan prisoners were hanged in the prison of Tabas, eastern Iran.
SEPTEMBER 19, 2012Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: PAKISTANI NATIONAL EXECUTED FOR DRUG SMUGGLING
Saudi Arabia beheaded a Pakistani national in the holy city of Medina after convicting him of drug smuggling, the interior ministry said.
SEPTEMBER 13, 2012VietnamDEATH PENALTYVIETNAM: COURT UPHOLDS WOMAN’S DEATH PENALTY FOR TRADING DRUGS
The appeal court of the Supreme People’s Court in Ho Chi Minh City upheld the death
- SEPTEMBER 5, 2012VietnamDEATH PENALTY
a court in the central province of Quang Tri, Vietnam...
a court in the central province of Quang Tri, Vietnam...
SEPTEMBER 4, 2012Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: PAKISTANI EXECUTED FOR HEROIN TRAFFICKING
Saudi Arabia executed a citizen of Pakistan in the city of Medina for drug trafficking.
- AUGUST 26, 2012NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
the High Court sentenced a Nigerian man
the High Court sentenced a Nigerian man
- AUGUST 21, 2012JapanDEATH PENALTY
a Malaysian court handed down a death sentence
a Malaysian court handed down a death sentence
- AUGUST 9, 2012United Arab EmiratesDEATH PENALTY
the Khorfakkan Court of Appeal upheld a lower court’s verdict
the Khorfakkan Court of Appeal upheld a lower court’s verdict
JULY 31, 2012MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: IRANIAN FAMILY ON DRUG CHARGE SAVED FROM THE GALLOWS
Three members of an Iranian family were saved from the gallows when the High Court
- JULY 30, 2012United Arab EmiratesDEATH PENALTY
UAE: HEROIN SMUGGLER SENTENCED TO DEATH
A man who swallowed 103 capsules of heroin so he could smuggle the drug into the UAE faces execution
- JULY 18, 2012Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
SRI LANKA: YOUNG MOTHER SENTENCED TO DEATH
In Sri Lanka, a young mother who was convicted under the Dangerous Drugs Act for possessing
- JULY 17, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
three prisoners were hanged in the prison of Qazvin early in the morning. In a press
three prisoners were hanged in the prison of Qazvin early in the morning. In a press
- JULY 12, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
Three prisoners were hanged in the prison of Qazvin early in the morning, reported the official
Three prisoners were hanged in the prison of Qazvin early in the morning, reported the official
JULY 12, 2012DEATH PENALTYIRAN: FOUR PRISONERS HANGED IN QAZVIN, SHIRAZ
Four prisoners were hanged in Iran for drug trafficking, murder.
JULY 12, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TWO PRISONERS HANGED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Two prisoners were hanged in the prison of Yasooj (western Iran) reported the local media.
- JULY 10, 2012SingaporeDEATH PENALTY
SINGAPORE PLANS CHANGES TO MANDATORY DEATH PENALTY
Singapore is proposing changes to its mandatory death penalty for drug trafficking and murder
- JULY 4, 2012Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Saudi Arabia beheaded one of its citizens for smuggling drugs into the kingdom
Saudi Arabia beheaded one of its citizens for smuggling drugs into the kingdom
- JULY 3, 2012MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA: DEATH SENTENCE FOR MAN IN RETRIAL
An Indian national from Chennai was sentenced to death by hanging in Malaysia after he
JULY 1, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TWO PRISONERS EXECUTED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
two prisoners were hanged in the prison of Rafsanjan, Iran, early in the morning. According
- JUNE 26, 2012Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Saudi authorities beheaded a Syrian national for drug smuggling, the interior ministry said.
Saudi authorities beheaded a Syrian national for drug smuggling, the interior ministry said.
JUNE 26, 2012ThailandDEATH PENALTYVIETNAM: THAI GIRL GETS DEATH PENALTY FOR DRUGS
A court in Ho Chi Minh City sentenced a Thai college student to death for her role in a
- JUNE 20, 2012VietnamDEATH PENALTY
VIETNAM: YOUNG WOMAN GETS DEATH PENALTY FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
A former schoolgirl, 23-year-old Tran Ha Duy, who has been charged with drug trafficking
- JUNE 19, 2012United Arab EmiratesDEATH PENALTY
UAE: BANI YAS COP-SHOOTING GUNMEN GET DEATH SENTENCE
An Abu Dhabi court sentenced to death two drug dealers who shot and wounded undercover
JUNE 15, 2012IndonesiaDEATH PENALTYINDONESIA: TWO FOREIGNERS ON DEATH ROW TO BE EXECUTED SOON
Two foreigners found guilty of smuggling heroin into Indonesia are expected
JUNE 13, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: IRANIAN TO HANG FOR TRAFFICKING IN METHAMPHETAMINE
The High Court in Malaysia sentenced an Iranian man to death by hanging after being found guilty of
- JUNE 8, 2012MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA: ZAMBIAN FEMALE STUDENT SENTENCED TO DEATH
The Malaysian High Court sentenced a Zambian female student to death for