The death penalty for drug offences
Archive theme
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, 2009IranDEATH PENALTY
the website of Iran’s State-run television said that two men were hanged in a prison in
the website of Iran’s State-run television said that two men were hanged in a prison in
- JUNE 17, 2009IranDEATH PENALTY
Iran hanged two men convicted of drug trafficking. A report in the Vatan Emrouz
Iran hanged two men convicted of drug trafficking. A report in the Vatan Emrouz
- JUNE 4, 2009ChinaDEATH PENALTY
ZAMBIA COMMUTE WOMAN’S DEATH SENTENCE, PLEADS ZUJ
the Zambia Union of Journalists appealed to the Chinese Government through its embassy in Lusaka to commute the death sentence of Mary Musiyalike, a Zambian woman convicted for drug trafficking.
- JUNE 1, 2009ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA: DEATH SENTENCE APPEAL
a tourism official in southwest China's Sichuan Province is appealing to a higher court after being sentenced to death for drug trafficking, Life News reported.
JUNE 1, 2009ChinaDEATH PENALTYCHINA: KENYANS RECEIVE DEATH PENALTY FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
authorities in China sentenced five Kenyan nationals to death after they were convicted
MAY 31, 2009IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: FIVE PEOPLE EXECUTED IN KERMAN
Five people were hanged in the prison of Kerman, south east of Iran, reported the official news portal of the city.
- MAY 27, 2009IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: ONE MAN HANGED IN SIRJAN FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
One man was hanged in the prison of Sirjan, in Kerman province south east of Iran.
- MAY 26, 2009ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA: BRITON TO APPEAL DEATH SENTENCE
a British citizen sentenced to death for drugs trafficking in China is to plead his case at an appeal court.
MAY 22, 2009MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: ELECTRICIAN TO HANG FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
an electrician was sentenced to death by the Malaysian High Court after he was found
- MAY 19, 2009IranDEATH PENALTY
Iranian authorities hanged a man convicted of drug trafficking. The man, identified as
Iranian authorities hanged a man convicted of drug trafficking. The man, identified as
- MAY 19, 2009MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA: EX-POLICEMAN TO HANG FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
in Malaysia, a former police constable was sentenced to death by Judicial
MAY 19, 2009DEATH PENALTYIRAN: TWO HANGED FOR MURDER, DRUG TRAFFICKING
Iranian authorities hanged two men convicted of drug trafficking and murder
- MAY 17, 2009BangladeshDEATH PENALTY
BANGLADESH: MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH, ANOTHER GIVEN LIFE TERM IN SYLHET
a court in Sylhet, Bangladesh, sentenced a man to death and another to life term imprisonment in a drug case
- MAY 16, 2009DEATH PENALTY
IRAN: EIGHT MEN HANGED IN ONE DAY
eight men were hanged in Iran for murder and drug trafficking.
MAY 13, 2009DEATH PENALTYIRAN: SIX EXECUTED FOR MURDER, DRUG TRAFFICKING
six men have been recently hanged in Iran for murder and drug trafficking, local media reported.
- MAY 12, 2009IranDEATH PENALTY
two prisoners identified as Mohsen Sadeghi, 35, and Reza Choupani, 40
two prisoners identified as Mohsen Sadeghi, 35, and Reza Choupani, 40
MAY 12, 2009MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: FORMER COP SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
in Kuantan, Malaysia, a former policeman was sentenced to death after he was
- MAY 11, 2009IranDEATH PENALTY
two men, identified as "Mohammad Mehdi" and "Reza Gholi" and convicted
two men, identified as "Mohammad Mehdi" and "Reza Gholi" and convicted
- MAY 8, 2009IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: TWO HANGED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Two men were hanged in the Iranian city of Shiraz, reported the state run Iranian news
- MAY 7, 2009IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: FIVE PEOPLE HANGED IN KERMAN
Five people were hanged in the prison of Kerman, south-eastern part of Iran, reported
- MAY 7, 2009ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA: MAN GETS DEATH FOR DRUG OFFENCES
Hong Kong national Yuen Wai-ming was sentenced to death by the Shenzhen
- MAY 6, 2009DEATH PENALTY
IRAN: 13 HANGED FOR MURDER, DRUG TRAFFICKING
One woman and three men were hanged in Tehran’s Evin prison early this morning, reported the state run Fars news agency.
- MAY 4, 2009IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: MAN EXECUTED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
a prisoner was executed in the Ardabil Jail, Iran.
- APRIL 28, 2009IranDEATH PENALTY
Iran has hanged a drug trafficker in a prison in the southwestern city of Ahvaz, Karoon
Iran has hanged a drug trafficker in a prison in the southwestern city of Ahvaz, Karoon
- APRIL 23, 2009ChinaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA APPEALS TO CHINA FOR CLEMENCY
the Malaysian Foreign Ministry sent a clemency appeal for Malaysian Ong Kim Fatt who is on death row in China for drug trafficking, said its Deputy Minister Datuk Lee Chee Leong.
- APRIL 23, 2009ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA: NIGERIAN EXECUTED FOR DRUG SMUGGLING
Nigerian national Chibuzor Vitus Ezekwem was executed in China after being found
- APRIL 13, 2009ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA: MOVE TO SEEK CLEMENCY FOR MALAYSIAN HELD IN DEATH ROW
clemency is being sought for Ong Kim Fatt, a Malaysian who is facing a firing squad in China for drug smuggling.
MARCH 19, 2009VietnamDEATH PENALTYVIETNAM: DEATH SENTENCE UPHELD IN DRUG TRAFFICKING CASE
in Vietnam, the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Supreme Court upheld a death sentence
- MARCH 11, 2009IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: FOUR HANGED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Iran hanged four convicted drug smugglers in a prison in the eastern town of Tabas,
- MARCH 11, 2009IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: TWO MEN HANGED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Two men were hanged in the prison of Sari (northern Iran), reported the official site of