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 27, 2009PhilippinesDEATH PENALTY
PHILIPPINES: 22 PINOYS SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
twenty-two Filipinos were sentenced to death for drug trafficking in China.
JUNE 26, 2009ChinaDEATH PENALTYCHINA: FOUR MORE TRAFFICKERS EXECUTED ON INTERNATIONAL ANTI-DRUG DAY
China executed four men for drug trafficking on annual international anti-drug day, in
JUNE 25, 2009ChinaDEATH PENALTYCHINA: 8 EXECUTED IN ANTI-DRUG BATTLE
eight people sentenced to death for drug production and trafficking were executed in China.
- JUNE 23, 2009ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA: NIGERIAN GETS DEATH IN SOUTH CHINA
four people convicted of drug trafficking were sentenced to death by the Dongguan Intermediate People's Court in south China's Guangdong Province
JUNE 22, 2009IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: SIX MEN EXECUTED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING, MURDER
six men have been recently executed in Iran for drug trafficking, murder.
- 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, 2009KenyaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA: 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 PENALTYMALAYSIA: EX-POLICEMAN TO HANG FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
in Malaysia, a former police constable was sentenced to death by Judicial
MAY 19, 2009IranDEATH 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, 2009IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: EIGHT MEN HANGED IN ONE DAY
eight men were hanged in Iran for murder and drug trafficking.
MAY 13, 2009IranDEATH 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, 2009Hong Kong SAR ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA: MAN GETS DEATH FOR DRUG OFFENCES
Hong Kong national Yuen Wai-ming was sentenced to death by the Shenzhen
- MAY 6, 2009IranDEATH 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, 2009NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA: NIGERIAN EXECUTED FOR DRUG SMUGGLING
Nigerian national Chibuzor Vitus Ezekwem was executed in China after being found