American Basketball Player Faces Death Penalty in Indonesia for Smuggling Cannabis Candy
A 34-year-old Dallas native and professional basketball player, Jarred Dwayne Shaw, has been arrested and charged with smuggling illegal drugs into Indonesia. Shaw, who plays for the Indonesian Basketball League, was taken into custody on May 7 after police raided his apartment in Jakarta and seized 132 pieces of cannabis candy.
According to authorities, the arrest followed a tip from the airport’s customs department, which reported that Shaw had received a suspicious package from Thailand. Cannabis has been decriminalized in Thailand since November 2024, but it remains illegal in Indonesia, where convicted smugglers can face the death penalty.
Shaw, who played college basketball at Oklahoma State and Utah State, told police that he intended to share the cannabis candy with his teammates. However, Indonesian authorities are taking a strict stance on drug-related offenses, and Shaw faces up to life imprisonment or the death penalty if found guilty.
The Indonesian Basketball League has banned Shaw from playing for life, and his team, Tangerang Hawks, has fired him from his contract. The league’s chair, Budisatrio Djiwandono, emphasized that there is no room for drug users in the basketball world.
Indonesia has some of the strictest drug laws in the world, and the country has executed several drug smugglers in the past. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime has identified Indonesia as a major drug-smuggling hub, with international drug syndicates targeting its young population.
Shaw’s case has sparked concern about the country’s tough drug laws and the potential consequences for foreign nationals who violate them. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of complying with local laws and regulations, even for those who may be accustomed to more lenient drug policies in their home countries.
