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
MARCH 19, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: IRANIAN WOMAN GETS DEATH FOR TRAFFICKING IN 1.76KG OF SYABU
An Iranian woman was sent to the gallows by the High Court in Malaysia for
- MARCH 14, 2012United Arab EmiratesDEATH PENALTY
the UAE’s top court annulled death sentences against eight...
the UAE’s top court annulled death sentences against eight Asian men convicted of smuggling a large amount of drugs into the country, newspapers reported.
- MARCH 13, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
Three prisoners were hanged in the prison of Qazvin (Ghazvin), west of Tehran.
Three prisoners were hanged in the prison of Qazvin (Ghazvin), west of Tehran.
MARCH 7, 2012ChinaDEATH PENALTYCHINA: 3 TAIWANESE EXECUTED IN XIAMEN FOR TRAFFICKING 357KG DRUGS
Three Taiwanese drug traffickers who were given the death penalty by the Xiamen
MARCH 6, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: IRANIAN TO HANG FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
In Malaysia An Iranian was sentenced to death by the Shah Alam High Court to
MARCH 5, 2012SingaporeDEATH PENALTYSINGAPORE: TRAFFICKER ON DEATH ROW ESCAPES GALLOWS
In Singapore, the fate of a drug trafficker who was on death row has taken a second
- MARCH 2, 2012Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Saudi Arabia beheaded a man after he was convicted of drug trafficking
Saudi Arabia beheaded a man after he was convicted of drug trafficking
- FEBRUARY 24, 2012Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Saudi Arabia beheaded a man convicted of trafficking drugs in the kingdom.
Saudi Arabia beheaded a man convicted of trafficking drugs in the kingdom.
- FEBRUARY 22, 2012ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA: TRIO WHO DEALT DRUGS GIVEN DEATH SENTENCES
Three drug dealers in a gang of five were given death penalties for selling and transporting
- FEBRUARY 14, 2012MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
a Myanmar national was sentenced to death by hanging by the High Court
a Myanmar national was sentenced to death by hanging by the High Court
FEBRUARY 14, 2012Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: TWO DRUG TRAFFICKERS BEHEADED
Saudi Arabia beheaded two men convicted of drug trafficking in the ultra-conservative kingdom, the interior ministry announced.
- FEBRUARY 13, 2012MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA: INDIAN NATIONAL SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
An Indian national was sentenced to death in Malaysia for trafficking in 1,982.8 grams
FEBRUARY 8, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: FOUR PRISONERS EXECUTED IN QOM
Four prisoners have been executed in the prison of Qom in the past few days, reported
- JANUARY 30, 2012Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: CONVICTED DRUG SMUGGLER BEHEADED
In Saudi Arabia, a Pakistani man convicted of trying to smuggle drugs into the kingdom
- JANUARY 30, 2012Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
SRI LANKA: TRISHAW DRIVER SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR TRAFFICKING HEROIN
In Sri Lanka, Colombo High Court sentenced a trishaw driver to death for
- JANUARY 29, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: TWO HANGED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Two prisoners were hanged in the prison of Semnan, north of Iran.
- JANUARY 28, 2012IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: COURT AWARDS DEATH PENALTY IN DRUG CASE FOR THE FIRST TIME
in the first ever case of capital punishment in a drug crime, a special Narcotics
JANUARY 12, 2012MoroccoDEATH PENALTYMOROCCO: DRUG KINGPIN SENTENCED TO DEATH
A Moroccan court sentenced the head of a major drug gang to death after he
JANUARY 8, 2012DEATH PENALTYIRAN: AT LEAST 41 EXECUTIONS IN THE FIRST WEEK OF 2012
The new year also began with a series of mass executions in Iran.
- JANUARY 4, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
five prisoners were hanged in the prison of Zanjan for drug trafficking
five prisoners were hanged in the prison of Zanjan for drug trafficking
- JANUARY 4, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
one prisoner was hanged in the central prison of Semnan
one prisoner was hanged in the central prison of Semnan
- JANUARY 4, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
five narcotics traffickers were hanged in the Kerman and Bam prisons
five narcotics traffickers were hanged in the Kerman and Bam prisons
JANUARY 3, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: 25 PRISONERS HANGED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
At least 25 prisoners have been executed in Iran in the past two days, official and unofficial
- JANUARY 2, 2012ChinaDEATH PENALTY
a female college student named Lanlan
a female college student named Lanlan
- JANUARY 2, 2012Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: TWO NATIONALS EXECUTED FOR DRUG SMUGGLING
Saudi Arabia beheaded two nationals in the eastern province of Al-Ahsa after convicting them of drug smuggling, the interior ministry said.
- JANUARY 1, 2012MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
In Malaysia capital crimes include murder...
In Malaysia capital crimes include murder...
- JANUARY 1, 2012SingaporeDEATH 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, 2012PakistanDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty is imposed for several crimes...
The death penalty is imposed for several crimes...
- JANUARY 1, 2012LaosDEATH 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, 2012VietnamDEATH PENALTY
Vietnam applies the death penalty for 29 different crimes.
Vietnam applies the death penalty for 29 different crimes.