US basketball player in Indonesia guilty about drugs, death penalty threatens
US basketball player in Indonesia guilty about drugs, death penalty threatens
Jakarta, Indonesia - an American basketball player of the Indonesian league was arrested on Thursday because he had supposedly tried to smuggle illegal drugs into the country, according to the police.
strict drug policy in Indonesia
The Southeast Asian country has extremely strict drug regulations, and convicted smugglers have to expect execution by a shooting club in some cases.
Details for arrest
Jarred Dwayne Shaw, 34 years old and originally from Dallas, Texas, was arrested on May 7 after the police searched his apartment in the Tangerang region, directly outside the capital of Jakarta. 132 cannabis candies were confiscated, reported Ronald Sipayung, the chief of police of the S soekarno-Hatta Airport.
information and investigation
The arrest followed a note from the customs at the airport, which reported that Shaw had received a suspicious package from Thailand. Cannabis has been decriminalized in Thailand since November 2024. According to the anti-drug laws of Indonesia, Shaw threatens in the event of a conviction up to life in prison or the death penalty, Sipayung explained.
video and statements during the arrest
A video spread in the social network supposedly shows Shaw how he resisted in a black T-shirt and shorts when the police take it while he calls: "Help ... Help!"
Schaw’s basketball career
Shaw has played for several clubs in the Indonesian basketball league since 2022 and signed a contract with the Tangerang Hawks last year. During the interrogation, he stated that he wanted to share the cannabis candies with his teammates, said Sipayung. He reported that the sweets contained a total weight of 869 grams (30.6 ounces) illegal cannabinoids.
continuous investigation
"We continue to investigate to uncover the international drug network behind this case and to stop its distribution," said Sipayung.
clever reaction and punishments
When Shaw was presented by the authorities on Wednesday during a press conference, he wore an orange T-shirt for detainees and a mask while his hands were tied up. The manager of the Tangerang Hawks, Tikky Suwantikno, told the reporters on Thursday that they feel regret about Shaw's behavior and the club immediately released him because he violated his contract.
lifelong lock from the league
The Indonesian basketball league has excluded Shaw for playing for life, said chairman Budisatrio Djiwandono. "We do not tolerate players, administrators or anyone in the area that is involved in drugs. There is no place for drug users in basketball," emphasized Djiwandono.
drug crime in Indonesia
The United Nations office for drugs and crime reports that Indonesia is an important center for drug trafficking, although it has some of the strictest drug regulations worldwide. One reason for this is that international drug cartels are targeting the country's young population.
Current statistics on death penalties
Currently there are around 530 people in the death cell in Indonesia, mainly because of drug -related crimes, including 96 foreigners, as the data of the Ministry for Immigration and Justice show. The last executions in Indonesia that concerned an Indonesian and three foreigners took place in July 2016.