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
JUNE 20, 2012VietnamDEATH PENALTYVIETNAM: 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, 2012YemenDEATH 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, 2012MalaysiaDEATH 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, 2012IndonesiaDEATH PENALTY
INDONESIA: DEATH FOR DRUGS NOT A DETERRENT
Indonesia’s top narcotics official said that the use of the death penalty for drug offenses does
JUNE 8, 2012ZambiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: ZAMBIAN FEMALE STUDENT SENTENCED TO DEATH
The Malaysian High Court sentenced a Zambian female student to death for
- JUNE 7, 2012PakistanDEATH PENALTY
Saudi Arabia beheaded a Pakistani man convicted of drug trafficking, the second execution
Saudi Arabia beheaded a Pakistani man convicted of drug trafficking, the second execution
JUNE 7, 2012Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: TWO MEN EXECUTED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING, MURDER
Saudi Arabia beheaded a Pakistani man convicted of drug trafficking, the second execution in
JUNE 3, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: 3 AFGHAN PRISONERS HANGED OVER DRUGS SMUGGLE CHARGES
According to local authorities in western afghan Nimroz province the dead bodies of three Afghans
MAY 31, 2012MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: INDIAN NATIONAL GETS THE GALLOWS FOR TRAFFICKING
An Indian national was sentenced to the gallows by the High Court in Malaysia after he was
MAY 25, 2012South KoreaDEATH PENALTYCHINA: SOUTH KOREAN MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
A South Korean man has been sentenced to death for drug trafficking in the eastern
MAY 23, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: SEVEN PRISONERS HANGED
Seven prisoners have been hanged in Iran recently.
- MAY 22, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
three prisoners were executed in Shiraz (southern Iran). According to the official site
three prisoners were executed in Shiraz (southern Iran). According to the official site
MAY 21, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: 14 HANGED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Iran hanged 14 people in Tehran after they were convicted of drug trafficking, a statement from the Tehran prosecutor’s office said.
MAY 17, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: 26 PRISONERS HANGED IN TWO DAYS
According to the official and unofficial reports 26 prisoners were executed in three different Iranian prisons in two days.
- MAY 16, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: PRISONER HANGED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
One prisoner was hanged in Zanjan (west of Tehran) early in the morning.
- MAY 16, 2012SingaporeDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA: 5 PEOPLE SENTENCED TO DEATH OVER DRUGS
A Malaysian court sentenced to death three Mexican brothers and two other people
- MAY 15, 2012MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA: TWO IRANIAN MEN FREED OF DRUG TRAFFICKING CHARGE
In Malaysia, two Iranian men escaped the gallows after the High Court freed them of a drug trafficking
MAY 8, 2012IndiaDEATH PENALTYINDIA: MANDATORY DEATH PENALTY PROVISION MAY BE DROPPED FROM NDPS ACT
In India, the government may drop the mandatory death penalty provision for repeat drug offenders
- MAY 2, 2012MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
the Federal Court, in Malaysia, upheld the death sentence on four men
the Federal Court, in Malaysia, upheld the death sentence on four men
- APRIL 30, 2012MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA: MYANMAR REFUGEES TO HANG FOR DRUGS
Three Myanmar refugees have been sentenced to death in Myanmar for drug trafficking
- APRIL 26, 2012AfghanistanDEATH PENALTY
Afghanistan and Iran have agreed to a prisoner exchange...
Afghanistan and Iran have agreed to a prisoner exchange...
- APRIL 25, 2012VietnamDEATH PENALTY
VIETNAM: DRUG GANG BOSS SENTENCED TO DEATH
The leader of a drug gang that transported 11 kilograms of synthetic heroin besides marijuana
- APRIL 20, 2012MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA: FOREIGN NATIONAL TO HANG FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
In Malaysia, a fish monger from India was sentenced to death by the High Court
APRIL 16, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN HANGS EIGHT CONVICTED DRUG TRAFFICKERS
Iran hanged eight convicted drug traffickers in a prison in the southern city of Shiraz, the Fars news agency reported.
- APRIL 10, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
Five prisoners were executed in Iran, reported the state run Iranian media.
Five prisoners were executed in Iran, reported the state run Iranian media.
- APRIL 10, 2012ChinaDEATH PENALTY
FIVE DRUG TRAFFICKERS SENTENCED IN CHINA
Five drug traffickers were sentenced in the eastern Chinese city of Wenzhou, with
APRIL 10, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: 10 PRISONERS HANGED IN TWO DAYS
Ten prisoners were executed in Iran yesterday and today, reported the state run Iranian media.
- APRIL 9, 2012VietnamDEATH PENALTY
a Ho Chi Minh City court, Vietnam...
a Ho Chi Minh City court, Vietnam...
- APRIL 5, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: PRISONER HANGED IN ARAN-BIGDEL
One prisoner was hanged in the town of Aran-Bigdel, reported the Iranian state broadcasting. The