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 17, 2002ThailandDEATH PENALTY
The Nigerian embassy in Bangkok confirmed the execution...
The Nigerian embassy in Bangkok confirmed the execution of five Nigerians by firing squad in Bangwang, Thailand, for drug trafficking
- JANUARY 16, 2002ChinaDEATH PENALTY
A Chinese court sentenced a South Korean drug trafficker...
A Chinese court sentenced a South Korean drug trafficker to death
- JANUARY 16, 2002South KoreaDEATH PENALTY
A Chinese court sentenced a South Korean drug trafficker...
A Chinese court sentenced a South Korean drug trafficker to death
- JANUARY 7, 2002ChinaDEATH PENALTY
China should halt the execution of Hong Kong residents...
China should halt the execution of Hong Kong residents convicted of capital offences, an alliance of civic groups fighting the mainland's death penalty said in a petition presented to the SAR [Special Administrative Region] Security Bureau
- JANUARY 7, 2002Hong Kong SAR ChinaDEATH PENALTY
China should halt the execution of Hong Kong residents...
China should halt the execution of Hong Kong residents convicted of capital offences, an alliance of civic groups fighting the mainland's death penalty said in a petition presented to the SAR [Special Administrative Region] Security Bureau
- JANUARY 1, 2002BruneiDEATH PENALTY
Smuggling more than 200 grams of heroin, morphine,...
Smuggling more than 200 grams of heroin, morphine, opium and marijuana or possessing more than 250 grams carries the death penalty
- JANUARY 1, 2002IranDEATH PENALTY
Iran carried out at least 198 executions, including...
Iran carried out at least 198 executions, including at least 6 women and a juvenile, in 2001
- JANUARY 1, 2002ChinaDEATH PENALTY
Domestic consumption of drugs is becoming `more serious...
Domestic consumption of drugs is becoming `more serious with each passing day', according to an official white paper, which acknowledges that `the situation is grim for the anti-drug struggle
- JANUARY 1, 2002SingaporeDEATH PENALTY
Capital crimes are: murder, treason, offenses against...
Capital crimes are: murder, treason, offenses against the President, illegal possession of arms, kidnapping and causing an innocent person to be executed by bearing false witness
- JANUARY 1, 2002ThailandDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty applies in Thailand to heroin or...
The death penalty applies in Thailand to heroin or amphetamine drug trafficking and especially where the prisoner is found guilty after pleading not guilty at the start of their trial
- JANUARY 1, 2002VietnamDEATH PENALTY
The People's Supreme Court has issued a resolution...
The People's Supreme Court has issued a resolution guiding the implementation of six Criminal Law regulations
- JANUARY 1, 2002PakistanDEATH PENALTY
Smuggling more than a kilo of heroin carries the death...
Smuggling more than a kilo of heroin carries the death penalty in Pakistan
- DECEMBER 28, 2001ChinaDEATH PENALTY
In Shanghai, China, three heroin traffickers were executed...
In Shanghai, China, three heroin traffickers were executed this week after being sentenced, an official at the No 1 Intermediate People's Court said
- DECEMBER 21, 2001MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
State narcotics chief Supt Othman Harun said having...
State narcotics chief Supt Othman Harun said having small amounts of drugs does not mean that pushers can escape the gallows
- DECEMBER 15, 2001PakistanDEATH PENALTY
Arif Hussain Baloch was given capital punishment for...
Arif Hussain Baloch was given capital punishment for drug trafficking by the Special Judge Anti Narcotics Court Syed Kazim Raza Shamsi
- DECEMBER 6, 2001MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
An interior designer, who had been on death row since...
An interior designer, who had been on death row since 1997 for drug trafficking, walked free after his appeal was allowed by the Court of Appeal
- DECEMBER 1, 2001ThailandDEATH PENALTY
Of the 371 sentenced to death, 247 were convicted on...
Of the 371 sentenced to death, 247 were convicted on drugs charges
- NOVEMBER 23, 2001VietnamDEATH PENALTY
Australian woman accused of drug smuggling is facing...
Australian woman accused of drug smuggling is facing the possible death penalty in Vietnam in a case which could strain diplomatic relations between Canberra and Hanoi
- NOVEMBER 23, 2001AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
Australian woman accused of drug smuggling is facing...
Australian woman accused of drug smuggling is facing the possible death penalty in Vietnam in a case which could strain diplomatic relations between Canberra and Hanoi
- NOVEMBER 15, 2001ThailandDEATH PENALTY
Executions of major drug traders could soon be televised...
Executions of major drug traders could soon be televised live as a deterrent to other traffickers, PM's Office Minister Thammarak Issarangkura na Ayuthaya said
- NOVEMBER 12, 2001IndonesiaDEATH PENALTY
Amnesty International urged ASEAN countries meeting...
Amnesty International urged ASEAN countries meeting in Bali, not to erode human rights protection by using the death penalty to fight drug trafficking
- NOVEMBER 9, 2001GhanaDEATH PENALTY
Three Ghanaian drug dealers were sentenced to death...
Three Ghanaian drug dealers were sentenced to death by hanging at the Klong Prem prison in Bangkok, Thailand
- NOVEMBER 9, 2001ThailandDEATH PENALTY
Three Ghanaian drug dealers were sentenced to death...
Three Ghanaian drug dealers were sentenced to death by hanging at the Klong Prem prison in Bangkok, Thailand
- NOVEMBER 6, 2001South KoreaDEATH PENALTY
Two Koreans on trial in Heilongjiang, China, on drug-trafficking...
Two Koreans on trial in Heilongjiang, China, on drug-trafficking charges are likely to be sentenced to death, court sources said
- NOVEMBER 6, 2001ChinaDEATH PENALTY
Two Koreans on trial in Heilongjiang, China, on drug-trafficking...
Two Koreans on trial in Heilongjiang, China, on drug-trafficking charges are likely to be sentenced to death, court sources said
- NOVEMBER 1, 2001ChinaDEATH PENALTY
The Seoul government asked Beijing to investigate allegations...
The Seoul government asked Beijing to investigate allegations that two South Korean citizens imprisoned in China on drug trafficking charges were denied their rights to due protection from Korean consular offices and one of them was physically abused by C
- NOVEMBER 1, 2001South KoreaDEATH PENALTY
The Seoul government asked Beijing to investigate allegations...
The Seoul government asked Beijing to investigate allegations that two South Korean citizens imprisoned in China on drug trafficking charges were denied their rights to due protection from Korean consular offices and one of them was physically abused by C
- OCTOBER 25, 2001United KingdomDEATH PENALTY
A Briton faces the death penalty in Thailand after...
A Briton faces the death penalty in Thailand after being accused of involvement in a heroin-smuggling ring
- OCTOBER 25, 2001NepalDEATH PENALTY
A Briton faces the death penalty in Thailand after...
A Briton faces the death penalty in Thailand after being accused of involvement in a heroin-smuggling ring
- OCTOBER 25, 2001ThailandDEATH PENALTY
A Briton faces the death penalty in Thailand after...
A Briton faces the death penalty in Thailand after being accused of involvement in a heroin-smuggling ring