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
MAY 22, 2011IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: THREE PEOPLE HANGED
Three people were hanged in Oroumieh prison in northwestern Iran early
- MAY 19, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
Iran hanged Taqi Nouri Aloyjeh in Isfahan after he was arrested while carrying 27 kilograms
Iran hanged Taqi Nouri Aloyjeh in Isfahan after he was arrested while carrying 27 kilograms
MAY 16, 2011DEATH PENALTYIRAN: 11 HANGINGS FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING, RAPE
11 people have been hanged recently in Iran. On May 14, one man found guilty of drug smuggling was hanged in a prison in the northern town of Tonekabon, the Kayhan newspaper reported.
- MAY 14, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
Two people were hanged in the city of Ghazvin, west for Tehran.
Two people were hanged in the city of Ghazvin, west for Tehran.
- MAY 12, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
SOUTH AFRICA GRILLS IRANIAN DIGNITARY ON 'EXCESSIVE' EXECUTIONS
"The number of executions in Iran is high because 74% of those executed are of drug traffickers
- MAY 12, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
Four people were hanged in the prison of Kerman, in south-east of Iran.
Four people were hanged in the prison of Kerman, in south-east of Iran.
- MAY 11, 2011AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
INDONESIA DROPS DEATH SENTENCE FOR AUSTRALIAN DRUG SMUGGLER
Indonesia's Supreme Court overturned the death sentence for convicted Australian heroin smuggler Scott Anthony Rush, 25, giving him life imprisonment instead.
MAY 9, 2011IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: THREE HANGED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
three people were hanged in the prison of Miandoab, in west of Iran, official Iranian news agency IRNA reported.
- MAY 3, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
Iran hanged two convicted drug traffickers in the northern city of Sari, the provincial judiciary department
Iran hanged two convicted drug traffickers in the northern city of Sari, the provincial judiciary department
MAY 3, 2011DEATH PENALTYIRAN: THREE HANGED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Iran hanged three convicted drug traffickers, official sources reported.
APRIL 22, 2011IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: ONE PERSON EXECUTED
One man was hanged in the prison of kermanshah west of Iran, reported the official Iranian
APRIL 21, 2011NigeriaDEATH PENALTYVIETNAM: NIGERIAN SENTENCED TO DEATH
a court in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, sentenced Nigerian man Nnaji David Ete, 33, to
- APRIL 17, 2011Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI KING PARDONS FILIPINO SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DRUG SMUGGLING
the king of Saudi Arabia pardoned a Filipino overseas worker sentenced to death for drug smuggling.
- APRIL 15, 2011MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
SINGAPORE: COURT ALLOWS APPEAL
Justices Chao Hick Tin, Andrew Phang and V. K. Rajah of the Singaporean Court of Appeal allowed Malaysian national Khor Soon Lee's appeal against his death sentence for drug trafficking because he did not know heroin was among the drugs he carried.
APRIL 13, 2011ChinaDEATH PENALTYCHINA: 26-YEAR-OLD FEMALE EXECUTED IN XIAMEN FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Mao Ran, 26, was executed in Xiamen, China, for ordering others to conduct
APRIL 13, 2011IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TWO PEOPLE HANGED IN ARAK
Two people were hanged in the prison of Arak, in central Iran.
- APRIL 4, 2011GambiaDEATH PENALTY
GAMBIA ABOLISHES DEATH PENALTY FOR DRUG-RELATED OFFENCES
the Gambian lawmakers approved new amendments, presented before the National Assembly
APRIL 4, 2011MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: NO REVIEW OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT
there are no plans to review the law on capital punishment, Malaysian Home Minister
MARCH 30, 2011ChinaDEATH PENALTYCHINA: THREE FILIPINOS EXECUTED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
three Filipinos were executed in China, according to Vice President Jejomar Binay.
- MARCH 24, 2011ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA: 3 PINOYS TO BE EXECUTED MARCH 30
three Filipinos whose execution in Shenzhen, China, on February 20 and 21 was put off will be executed for drug smuggling on March 30.
- MARCH 23, 2011NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
VIETNAM: COURT GIVES NIGERIAN DEATH SENTENCE FOR DRUG SMUGGLING
A court in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, has sentenced a Nigerian man to death for drug smuggling
- MARCH 19, 2011MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA: MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR TRAFFICKING SYABU
a court interpreter was sent to the gallows by the High Court in Miri, Malaysia, after he
MARCH 1, 2011IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TEN PEOPLE HANGED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Ten people were hanged in Iran for drug trafficking.
- FEBRUARY 23, 2011ThailandDEATH PENALTY
THAILAND: 4 POLICEMEN GET DEATH SENTENCE
the Thai Criminal Court sentenced four policemen to death on drug trafficking charges.
- FEBRUARY 20, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: TWO PEOPLE HANGED IN ISFAHAN
Two men were hanged in the prison of Isfahan, central Iran, early this morning.
- FEBRUARY 18, 2011ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA DELAYS EXECUTION OF PHILIPPINE DRUG MULES
China postponed the execution of three Filipinos found guilty of drug smuggling.
- FEBRUARY 18, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: FOUR PEOPLE HANGED IN KERMAN
Four men were hanged in the prison of Kerman, south east of Iran.
- FEBRUARY 11, 2011ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA TO EXECUTE 3 PINOYS AS DRUG TRAFFICKERS
three Filipinos convicted for drug trafficking in China had their death sentences upheld by the Supreme People's Court, the Philippines’ Department of Foreign Affairs said.
- JANUARY 30, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
one person was hanged in Tehran for drug trafficking, Iran’s prosecutor general,
one person was hanged in Tehran for drug trafficking, Iran’s prosecutor general,
JANUARY 19, 2011IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: 10 PEOPLE HANGED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Ten people were executed in Karaj’s Rejai Shahr Prison, Iran, early this morning.