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 7, 2005ChinaDEATH PENALTYCHINA. FOUR SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR HEROIN TRAFFICKING
three convicted drug traffickers were sentenced to death in southwestern China's Sichuan province, while two accomplices were given long prison terms, the Chengdu Commercial Daily said.
- APRIL 29, 2005VietnamDEATH PENALTY
VIETNAM. BUSINESSMAN SENTENCED TO DEATH ON HEROIN CHARGES
former director of the Trans-Continent Company, Phan Trieu Phu, was sentenced to death in Vietnam on charges of "trafficking illegal drugs".
- APRIL 28, 2005IndonesiaDEATH PENALTY
AUSTRALIA. GOVERNMENT SAID IT WOULD APPEAL CAPITAL PUNISHMENT FOR BALI DRUG SUSPECTS
Australia's prime minister, John Howard, said the government would appeal any death sentence which might be handed down to nine Australians accused of drug trafficking in Indonesia.
- APRIL 27, 2005VietnamDEATH PENALTY
Vietnam. Five to face firing squad for drug smuggling
five people, including a woman, were sentenced to death for drug trafficking in Vietnam, court officials said.
- APRIL 22, 2005VietnamDEATH PENALTY
VIETNAM. AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL GIVEN DEATH PENALTY FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Nguyen Van Chinh, an Australian man of Vietnamese origin, was sentenced to death in Vietnam for drug trafficking.
- APRIL 21, 2005MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA. MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR TRAFFICKING
Chong Chee Kong, a 46-year-old man who escaped from remand in Johor in 1989, was sentenced to death by the Malaysian High Court for drug trafficking. Kong, who had been on the run, was caught by police in 2001.
- APRIL 19, 2005AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
AUSTRALIA. GOVERNMENT ACCUSED OF EXPORTING DEATH PENALTY OVER DRUG ARRESTS IN BALI
the Australian Council for Civil Liberties (ACCL) challenged the Canberra government to say whether it was "exporting the death penalty" after Australian police aided in the arrest of nine young Australian drug suspects in Indonesia, where they could face
- MARCH 24, 2005IndonesiaDEATH PENALTY
last-minute efforts by Samuel Iwukchukwu Okoye and Hansen Anthony Nwalise...
last-minute efforts by Samuel Iwukchukwu Okoye and Hansen Anthony Nwalise...
MARCH 22, 2005IndonesiaDEATH PENALTYINDONESIA. GOVERNMENT URGED TO EXECUTE CONVICTED DRUG TRAFFICEKRS ON DEATH-ROW SOON
a member of the House of Representatives Commission III, Almuzammil Yusuf of the Prosperous Justice Party, called on the Indonesian government to implement the death sentences of a number of convicted drug traffickers soon.
- MARCH 10, 2005Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA. END TO BEHEADING OF NATIONALS IN SAUDI ARABIA URGED
the Gandheeya Navasakthi Sanghom party urged the Indian Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, to take immediate steps to end the beheading of Indian citizens by the Saudi Arabian authorities on charges of drug trafficking.
- FEBRUARY 25, 2005MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
A. Sridhar, a soldier, was sentenced to death
A. Sridhar, a soldier, was sentenced to death
FEBRUARY 22, 2005IndiaDEATH PENALTYIndian national Sayyid Elwy, convicted of smuggling...
Indian national Sayyid Elwy, convicted of smuggling...
- FEBRUARY 12, 2005Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA. AFGHANI EXECUTED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
an Afghani convicted of drug trafficking was beheaded by the sword in the Red Sea port city of Jeddah, the Saudi interior ministry said.
- FEBRUARY 7, 2005BrazilDEATH PENALTY
an Indonesian court sentenced two foreigners, a Brazilian and an Indian, to death for drug trafficking
an Indonesian court sentenced two foreigners, a Brazilian and an Indian, to death for drug trafficking
- FEBRUARY 1, 2005AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
Singapore's premier said he would consider a bid for clemency from Australia
Singapore's premier said he would consider a bid for clemency from Australia
- JANUARY 31, 2005Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Two Pakistanis were beheaded on in the Red Sea city of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Two Pakistanis were beheaded on in the Red Sea city of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, after being convicted of drug trafficking
- JANUARY 25, 2005ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA. GUANGZHOU YUEXIU DISTRICT PEOPLE'S COURT ORDERS EXECUTION OF PEOPLE INVOLVED IN DRUG TRAFFICKING
the Guangzhou Yuexiu District People's Court, China, passed sentence on Wei Fenglan, a 21 year old female, for drug trafficking.
- JANUARY 25, 2005ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA. CHONGQING CITY NO 1 INTERMEDIATE PEOPLE'S COURT SENTENCES MEN TO DEATH FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
in its initial trial, the Chongqing City No 1 Intermediate People's Court, China, sentenced He Xiangai and Li Guiqiang to death on drug smuggling drugs.
- JANUARY 24, 2005VietnamDEATH PENALTY
a Vietnamese court sentenced 17 people to death
a Vietnamese court sentenced 17 people to death
- JANUARY 13, 2005ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA. JIANGXI JIUJIANG CITY INTERMEDIATE PEOPLE'S COURT SENTENCES TO DEATH MAN FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
it was reported that in its initial trial, the Jiangxi Jiujiang City Intermediate People's Court sentenced Yu Wenbin to death and deprivation of political rights for life for drug trafficking.
- JANUARY 12, 2005ChinaDEATH PENALTY
three men convicted of drug trafficking were executed in south China
three men convicted of drug trafficking were executed in south China for drug related crimes
- JANUARY 11, 2005KuwaitDEATH PENALTY
Ayub Shah Bani Shah and Othman Ghani Mehrab Khan...
Ayub Shah Bani Shah and Othman Ghani Mehrab Khan...
- JANUARY 11, 2005VietnamDEATH PENALTY
six drug traffickers were sentenced to death in Vietnam
six drug traffickers were sentenced to death in Vietnam
- JANUARY 10, 2005PakistanDEATH PENALTY
Saudi Arabian authorities beheaded three foreign drug traffickers
Saudi Arabian authorities beheaded three foreign drug traffickers in the holy city of Mecca
- JANUARY 10, 2005United Arab EmiratesDEATH PENALTY
Ferzana K., a convicted Pakistani drug dealer had her death sentence commuted
Ferzana K., a convicted Pakistani drug dealer had her death sentence commuted
- JANUARY 8, 2005VietnamDEATH PENALTY
three Vietnamese were executed by firing squad
three Vietnamese were executed by firing squad
- JANUARY 1, 2005LaosDEATH 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, 2005BruneiDEATH 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, 2005IraqDEATH PENALTY
an Iraqi and a Pakistani were executed in Saudi Arabia
an Iraqi and a Pakistani were executed in Saudi Arabia
- DECEMBER 26, 2004VietnamDEATH PENALTY
two women were executed for drug trafficking
two women were executed for drug trafficking