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 1, 2009IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN HANGS 10 CONVICTED OF DRUG TRAFFICKING
Iran executed 10 men for drug trafficking in the western Kermanshah Province, the province’s
FEBRUARY 18, 2009IndonesiaDEATH PENALTYINDONESIA: 109 INMATES ON DEATH ROW
Data released this week by the Attorney General’s Office show that 41 of 109 inmates on
- FEBRUARY 10, 2009United Arab EmiratesDEATH PENALTY
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: MAN HAS DEATH SENTENCE COMMUTED
a man convicted of drug-related charges had his death sentence commuted to a 14-year prison sentence and Dh10,000 fine by the Fujairah Appeals Court in the United Arab Emirates.
JANUARY 29, 2009IndonesiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: TWO SENTENCED TO HANG FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
two people were sentenced to death in Malaysia for drug trafficking.
- JANUARY 28, 2009BulgariaDEATH PENALTY
EXECUTION AWAITS BULGARIAN DRIVER IN IRAN
A Bulgarian truck driver who had been missing for four months has be
- JANUARY 23, 2009MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA: DEATH SENTENCE FOR TRAFFICKING MORPHINE, HEROIN
the High Court in Malaysia sentenced a 41-year-old man to death after finding him guilty of drug trafficking. Justice Datuk Ahmadi Asnawi passed sentence on Ng Pak Nang, from Jalan Daud, under Section 39B(2) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
JANUARY 21, 2009DEATH PENALTYIRAN: 19 PEOPLE EXECUTED IN TWO DAYS
According to the Iranian media 19 people were hanged in Iran in the last two days.
JANUARY 21, 2009IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: THREE EXECUTED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
three men were hanged in the prison of Yazd, central Iran, early this m
- JANUARY 20, 2009IranDEATH PENALTY
Three unidentified men were hanged in the prison of Yazd, Iran, news agency
Three unidentified men were hanged in the prison of Yazd, Iran, news agency
- JANUARY 20, 2009IranDEATH PENALTY
Two men were hanged in the prison of Isfahan, central Iran, early this morning
Two men were hanged in the prison of Isfahan, central Iran, early this morning
- JANUARY 15, 2009ChinaDEATH PENALTY
MAN EXECUTED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING IN EAST CHINA
a court in east China's Fujian Province executed a man for smuggling and trafficking about
- JANUARY 9, 2009ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA: DRUG BARON EXECUTED AFTER ALL ASSETS SEIZED
a man was executed for drug dealing in Guangzhou, China. Chen Bingxi was found guilty of trafficking and manufacturing 12.36 tons of crystal meth and selling and transporting more than 100 kgs of heroin.
- JANUARY 1, 2009SingaporeDEATH 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, 2009PakistanDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty is imposed for several crimes...
The death penalty is imposed for several crimes...
- JANUARY 1, 2009VietnamDEATH PENALTY
Vietnam applies the death penalty for 29 different crimes.
Vietnam applies the death penalty for 29 different crimes.
- JANUARY 1, 2009MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
In Malaysia capital crimes include murder...
In Malaysia capital crimes include murder...
- JANUARY 1, 2009BruneiDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty is mandatory for murder, unlawful possession of firearms and explosives
The death penalty is mandatory for murder, unlawful possession of firearms and explosives
- JANUARY 1, 2009LaosDEATH 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
- DECEMBER 28, 2008IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: MAN HANGED IN ARDEBIL FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
One man has been hanged in the prison of Ardebil (northwestern Iranian province of east-Azarbaijan),
- DECEMBER 24, 2008IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN. ONE MAN HANGED IN NOSHAHR
a man was hanged in the prison of Noshahr (north of Iran) early today, reported the state run news
- DECEMBER 23, 2008EgyptDEATH PENALTY
an Egyptian court sentenced three Syrian men to death by hanging for trafficking heroin and opium
an Egyptian court sentenced three Syrian men to death by hanging for trafficking heroin and opium
- DECEMBER 21, 2008IndonesiaDEATH PENALTY
prosecutors are preparing for Indonesia’s 11th execution this year
prosecutors are preparing for Indonesia’s 11th execution this year
- DECEMBER 18, 2008IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN HANGS TWO FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Iran hanged two men in a prison in the religious city of Qom after they were convicted of drug trafficking,
DECEMBER 13, 2008IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TWO HANGED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Two men were hanged in the prison of Tabas (Khorasan province, eastern Iran) in the morning, reported
- DECEMBER 6, 2008IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN. THREE HANGED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Iran hanged three men convicted of drug trafficking in a prison in the southeastern city of Zahedan
- NOVEMBER 30, 2008IranDEATH PENALTY
COUPLE SENTENCED TO DEATH IN IRAN
A pregnant woman and her husband were sentenced to death in Iran under charges of drug trafficking,
- NOVEMBER 29, 2008IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN HANGS TWO FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Iran hanged two men convicted of drug trafficking in a prison in the southeastern city of Zahedan, Fars news
- NOVEMBER 28, 2008Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI, STATELESS ARAB BEHEADED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
a Saudi Arabian man and a stateless Arab convicted of drug trafficking were
- NOVEMBER 25, 2008ChinaDEATH PENALTY
EIGHT AFRICANS SENTENCED TO DEATH IN CHINA FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
eight Africans were sentenced to death in southern China after being convicted of drug smuggling, state press reported.
- NOVEMBER 24, 2008IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN. THREE HANGED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Iran hanged three men convicted of drug trafficking in a prison in the