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
JANUARY 31, 2008ChinaDEATH PENALTYCHINA. THREE INDONESIANS SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR CARRYING DRUGS
Chinese courts sentenced three Indonesian women to death for bringing
- JANUARY 27, 2008IranDEATH PENALTY
the Criminal Court in Kuwait City, Kuwait, sentenced an Iranian
the Criminal Court in Kuwait City, Kuwait, sentenced an Iranian
- JANUARY 25, 2008VietnamDEATH PENALTY
VIETNAM. 3 SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
the Ho Chi Minh City Court sentenced three members of a drug trafficking
JANUARY 20, 2008Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA. TWO MEN BEHEADED FOR DRUG SMUGGLING
Saudi Arabia beheaded by the sword two men convicted of "trafficking large amounts of drugs", the interior ministry announced.
- JANUARY 18, 2008VietnamDEATH PENALTY
three men were executed in Vietnam for drug trafficking.
three men were executed in Vietnam for drug trafficking.
JANUARY 9, 2008IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN. THREE EXECUTED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Iran regime hanged three, in public, for drug trafficking, in Birjand, capital of South Khorasan province bordering Afghanistan, state-run Fars News Agency reported.
JANUARY 4, 2008IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN EXECUTES MAN FOR DRUG SMUGGLING
Iranian authorities handed over the body of Abdul Qayyum to Taftan police
- JANUARY 2, 2008IranDEATH PENALTY
three people were publicly hanged for drug trafficking in a square in the central
three people were publicly hanged for drug trafficking in a square in the central
- JANUARY 2, 2008DEATH PENALTY
IRAN. 13 HANGED FOR MURDER, DRUG TRAFFICKING
Iran hanged 13 convicted criminals, including the mother of two young children who had been found guilty of murdering her husband after discovering he was having an affair, reports said.
- JANUARY 1, 2008PakistanDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty is imposed for several crimes...
The death penalty is imposed for several crimes...
- JANUARY 1, 2008IraqDEATH PENALTY
On April 9, 2003 Saddam Hussein’s Baathist regime was overthrown by a US-led military coalition.
On April 9, 2003 Saddam Hussein’s Baathist regime was overthrown by a US-led military coalition.
- JANUARY 1, 2008LaosDEATH 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, 2008BruneiDEATH 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, 2008SingaporeDEATH 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, 2008VietnamDEATH PENALTY
Vietnam applies the death penalty for 29 different crimes.
Vietnam applies the death penalty for 29 different crimes.
- DECEMBER 31, 2007IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN HANGS TWO FOR DRUG SMUGGLING
Iran hanged two people convicted of smuggling drugs in a South-eastern province bordering Pakistan and Afghanistan, official media reported. The two were put to death in Zahedan prison in the volatile border province of Sistan-
- DECEMBER 27, 2007VietnamDEATH PENALTY
a court in Vietnam handed down eight death sentences...
a court in Vietnam handed down eight death sentences...
- DECEMBER 20, 2007ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA: MAN EXECUTED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Zhou Liji, who had served time for fraud and larceny, was executed in China for drug trafficking, the Shanghai Daily said.
- DECEMBER 17, 2007IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN HANGS MAN FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Iran executed a man for drug trafficking in the south eastern city of Zahedan.
- DECEMBER 17, 2007Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
SRI LANKA: DRUG LORD SENTENCED TO DEATH
“drug kingpin” Mohammed Samoon Mohammed Shiyam, convicted for possessing nine kgs of pure heroin...
DECEMBER 14, 2007VietnamDEATH PENALTYVIETNAM. EIGHT SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR HEROIN TRAFFICKING
a Vietnamese court sentenced eight people to death for smuggling heroin, raising
DECEMBER 11, 2007IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN. FOUR HANGED, ONE IN PUBLIC
four men were hanged for drug trafficking in the city of Bojnord in the Northern
NOVEMBER 30, 2007VietnamDEATH PENALTYVIETNAM. FOUR SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
a court in the central Vietnamese province of Nghe An
NOVEMBER 29, 2007VietnamDEATH PENALTYVIETNAM. 11 SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR HEROIN TRAFFICKING
a Vietnamese court sentenced 11 people to death in a major drug trafficking case, state media reported
- NOVEMBER 25, 2007ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA: OFFICIAL SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DRUG SMUGGLING
Zheng Guoliang, former deputy to the Anhui Provincial People's Congress in east China, was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve for drug smuggling and illegal gun possession, local sources confirmed
NOVEMBER 21, 2007IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN. MAN PUBLICLY HANGED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Iran hanged a man convicted of drug trafficking in a square in the clerical capital
- NOVEMBER 20, 2007IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN. FIVE HANGED ON DRUGS CHARGES
Iran hanged five men for drug trafficking, local media reported, the latest in a g
- NOVEMBER 11, 2007IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN HANGS MAN FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Iran hanged a convicted drug trafficker in the southeastern city of Zahedan...
NOVEMBER 10, 2007Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA. PAKISTANI EXECUTED FOR DRUG SMUGGLING
a Pakistani man was beheaded by the sword in Saudi Arabia after he was convicted of drug smuggling, th
- NOVEMBER 9, 2007VietnamDEATH PENALTY
VIETNAM. THREE WOMEN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR TRAFFICKING HEROIN
a Vietnamese court sentenced three women to death and two other people to life