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JAKARTA, Indonesia — An American basketball player who played in the Indonesian league has been apprehended for allegedly attempting to traffic illicit substances into the country, authorities announced on Thursday. The case highlights Indonesia’s strict drug laws and the serious consequences faced by those accused of drug smuggling.
American Basketball Player Arrested for Alleged Drug Smuggling in Indonesia
Indonesia enforces stringent drug laws, with penalties for convicted smugglers potentially including execution by firing squad.
Details of the Arrest
Jarred Dwayne Shaw, 34, of Dallas, Texas, was taken into custody on May 7 following a raid on his residence in Tangerang regency, near Jakarta. Police confiscated 132 pieces of cannabis-infused edibles during the operation, according to Ronald Sipayung, the Soekarno-Hatta Airport police chief.
- The arrest was prompted by an alert from airport customs officials regarding a suspicious package sent to Shaw from Thailand, Sipayung stated.
- While cannabis is decriminalized in Thailand, Indonesia’s narcotics laws could subject Shaw to a life sentence or even the death penalty if convicted, Sipayung explained.
Video Shows Resistance During Arrest
A video clip circulating on social platforms apparently depicts Shaw, dressed in casual attire, resisting arrest by law enforcement. The footage purportedly shows Shaw shouting for help as officers moved to detain him.
Background of the Accused
Shaw has been a member of several Indonesian Basketball League teams since 2022 and signed with Tangerang Hawk the previous year. He reportedly told investigators that he intended to share the cannabis edibles with fellow basketball players, according to Sipayung.
Evidence Seized
- Authorities reported that the package contained a total gross weight of 869 grams (approximately 30.6 ounces) of illegal cannabinoid.
“We are continuing our investigation to uncover the global narcotics enterprise connected to this incident and to halt its distribution,” Sipayung affirmed.
Official Statement and League Response
Shaw did not issue any comments when presented by officials at a press conference on Wednesday. He was shown wearing an orange detainee uniform, a mask, and with his hands restrained.
Tangerang Hawks’ manager, Tikky Suwantikno, communicated to journalists on Thursday that the team deplored Shaw’s actions and immediately terminated his contract due to the violation.
The Indonesian Basketball League has issued a lifetime ban against Shaw, according to its chairman, Budisatrio Djiwandono.
“We do not condone any players, staff, or anyone involved in the league who uses drugs. There is absolutely no place for drug users in the world of basketball,” Djiwandono stated.
Indonesia as a Drug Trafficking Hub
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime has identified Indonesia as a significant hub for drug smuggling, despite the country’s stringent drug laws. This is partly due to international drug networks targeting its large youth demographic.
Approximately 530 individuals are currently on death row in Indonesia, the majority for narcotics-related offenses, including 96 foreign nationals, as per data from the Ministry of Immigration and Corrections. The last executions in Indonesia took place in July 2016, involving an Indonesian citizen and three foreign nationals.