Here’s an important reminder of how laws differing across the world can potentially have very serious consequences (which you’d think would be obvious, but all too often it’s not).
In this post:
Indonesia raids American basketball player’s home
An American basketball player living in Indonesia is facing some serious consequences. 34-year-old Jarred Dwayne Shaw is originally from Dallas, but has played in the Indonesian Basketball League since 2022. For the past year, he has been playing with the Tangerang Hawks, and prior to that, he played with other clubs.
On May 7, 2025, he was arrested in his apartment just outside Jakarta, after a police raid. They seized 123 pieces of Delta 9 THC cannabis candies. So, how was he caught?
Customs officers at Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta Airport (CGK) came across a package addressed to him, which arrived from Thailand, and was flagged for extra screening. They determined the contents, and decided to carry out a sting. So the package was sent to him, and they then raided his home. During an interrogation, Shaw reportedly told police that he intended to share the weed gummies with his teammates.
Cannabis has been decriminalized in Thailand since November 2024. Indonesia, meanwhile, has extremely strict drug laws. As a result, if found guilty, he potentially faces a life sentence or death by firing squad.
The club has announced that he has been fired due to breach of contract, and the Indonesian Basketball League has stated that he has been banned from the sport in the country for life. In a social media post, the team put up a photo with the words “Thank You,” and a caption reading “sometimes, the story ends differently than we planned.”
Interestingly, despite Indonesia’s strict laws, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime reports that Indonesia is a major drug smuggling hub. The country has around 530 people on death row, with most being for drug-related crimes, including 96 foreigners. The country’s last executions were carried out in 2016, also over drug crimes. While another 10 people were scheduled to be executed, they were ultimately spared.
This is an important reminder for travelers
There’s a lot of ignorance out there about drugs, with many people just putting them all in the same category. Like, there’s a difference between marijuana and something like meth, heroin, or fentanyl. Personally I think it’s absurdly stupid that so many countries are fine with alcohol but not with marijuana, but I digress, as that’s besides the point.
Regardless of how silly we might thinks laws are, and regardless of how infractions would be punished back home, it’s important to understand and respect laws in foreign countries. That’s true for travelers, and it’s even more true for someone working abroad for an extended period of time.
I sure hope that this guy gets a reduced sentence, and doesn’t end up spending his life in jail, or even worse. Reading about this, the story of WNBA star Brittney Griner comes to mind. In 2022, she was taken into custody in Russia after cannabis oil vape cartridges were found in her luggage. She was sentenced to nine years in prison, though ended up being released after several months as part of a prisoner swap.
As an even less extreme example, I’m reminded of a 2021 situation, where an American was hospitalized in the UAE. A day after arriving in the country, he fell ill with pancreatitis, and prior to being discharged from the hospital, was asked to provide a urine sample. That revealed trace amounts of marijuana.
However, he hadn’t actually consumed it in the UAE, but rather, had some in Las Vegas (where it’s legal), prior to his trip. He ended up being arrested and thrown in jail, and was eventually released.
I’m not sure what the moral of the story there is, other than that international travel can be complicated, and we don’t enjoy the same protections abroad as at home.
Bottom line
An American basketball player in Indonesia is potentially facing some serious punishments, after receiving a shipment of weed gummies from Thailand. Indonesia has strict drug laws, and he could face execution by firing squad.
It’s a very important reminder that something that might be legal at home (or at worst not be life changing) could change the rest of your life abroad. Be careful out there! Obviously this guy had a major lapse in judgment, but I hope he doesn’t spend the rest of his life paying for this mistake.
Americans have no right to comments on the laws of other countries given the fascism that prevails at home. A country that has precipitously declined into fascism.
If it were up to many in congress, individuals would face a firing squad for merely speaking out against Israel’s genocide in Gaza
SE Asia countries are trying to get higher productivity and in some cases adopting laws from Singapore because they're proven to work. In this case, he found himself in the crossfires of doing drugs and admitting he will give it to others. He's probably screwed.
Pretty stupid on his part. I take several medications. Before I travel anywhere I double check the legality of my meds. He knew they were illegal yet he bought them anyway. Its all on him.
FINISH HIM!!!!
I think the moral of this story is that certain countries are best avoided if you enjoy marijuana. Indonesia, UAE, and other muslim countries especially.
Ordering them through the mail was not smart. It's as though people think Customs are idiots who don't screen incoming packages.
I don't think he'll get a death sentence, but he can expect to spend a long time in a disgusting Indonesian prison before he's deported.
When I was flying to Australia last summer I was transiting through Fiji and after months of asking the Fijian authorities as well as the American embassy in Suva about the *Sudafed* I use for sinus headaches, I decided to pop a 12h at LAX and just buy Sudafed in Australia than risk carrying it into Fiji even though I wouldn't be leaving the airport, because it's illegal there. I never got a straight answer...
When I was flying to Australia last summer I was transiting through Fiji and after months of asking the Fijian authorities as well as the American embassy in Suva about the *Sudafed* I use for sinus headaches, I decided to pop a 12h at LAX and just buy Sudafed in Australia than risk carrying it into Fiji even though I wouldn't be leaving the airport, because it's illegal there. I never got a straight answer until I literally read the customs form which states medications that might be prohibited or controlled in Fiji are permitted for *international transfers* only. The point being, I do my goddamned homework and I don't expect to just "get lucky" and hope they don't rigorously search my bag.
You’re beautiful.
And you’re better than everyone else in the world.
The way the headline is worded makes it read as if American Airlines could face a firing squad.
They should for such poor service and IFE as well as lazy FAs who don't want to serve a second drink service in economy. They could stay the sentence pending a deadline to fix the above.
Paging all Brittney Griner apologists.
Are we going to swap and set free a spy or arms dealer or someone who deserves to be locked up again?
That was such a lousy swab, leaving behind other Americans who were falsely charged. It might have been because Biden forgot and had a senior moment. He was already senile when he was first elected but others mocked me for bringing it up.
Biden didn't make this decision. It will be entertaining when we find out who actually made this one, and many other decisions over the 4 year period.
I mean it’s a little different. First she had only enough medically prescribed weed for personal use, this guy not only had over a hundred gummies, but he also admitted to the police that he intended to share it with friends. Secondly, the timing of Griner’s arrest so soon after the invasion of Ukraine and given that she was probably the most famous female professional basketball player in the world (and certainly in the US)...
I mean it’s a little different. First she had only enough medically prescribed weed for personal use, this guy not only had over a hundred gummies, but he also admitted to the police that he intended to share it with friends. Secondly, the timing of Griner’s arrest so soon after the invasion of Ukraine and given that she was probably the most famous female professional basketball player in the world (and certainly in the US) makes it hard to argue Griner wasn’t detained for political reasons.
This guy is some rando who literally imported weed gummies with the intent to distribute to his teammates. Certainly not worthy of the death penalty anywhere, but (not that I agree) that’s at least a minor crime in many US states. The Indonesian authorities also likely had no idea who he was when they intercepted his package. Maybe the initial customs officer who detained Griner had no idea who she was, but someone up the food chain in Russia almost certainly figured it out before they decided to throw the book at her.
Moral of the story is that don’t use any recreational illegal drugs and you will have zero problems anywhere in the world. Just because cannabis is legal in your state doesn’t mean it’s legal in other countries. Drink Pepsi. No one ever gotten arrested for drinking Sprite or Pepsi.
It’s not that easy. There are plenty of prescription drugs (especially ADHD and anxiety medicines) and even OTC drugs (like Sudafed) that are illegal in other countries (and not just highly repressive ones). Usually they won’t throw the book at tourists who clearly have a small amount of medicines in prescription bottles for personal use, but I think there was recently an incident where an American woman studying abroad in Japan endured some jail time...
It’s not that easy. There are plenty of prescription drugs (especially ADHD and anxiety medicines) and even OTC drugs (like Sudafed) that are illegal in other countries (and not just highly repressive ones). Usually they won’t throw the book at tourists who clearly have a small amount of medicines in prescription bottles for personal use, but I think there was recently an incident where an American woman studying abroad in Japan endured some jail time for having ADHD medicine in her possession.
I have learned to check before I visit anywhere, but there were certainly a few times I unknowingly took medicines into countries where having any amount of them was criminalized. Now if I do go to countries where it might be an issue, I usually have a note from my doctor, make sure everything is in its original prescription bottle, and usually only take enough to last me the duration of my trip. I was pulled aside at customs once in Japan, but they let me continue based on those factors.
Well, if they do that, all Americans should boycott travel there forever! I have been there before (Bali, different place within Indonesia) and it is a wonderful place. However, I would certainly never return should they give this person such a harsh punishment. Best the rest of us can do here or any most circumstances is to vote with our $. Everything you do or don't spend your money on is in fact a vote....
Well, if they do that, all Americans should boycott travel there forever! I have been there before (Bali, different place within Indonesia) and it is a wonderful place. However, I would certainly never return should they give this person such a harsh punishment. Best the rest of us can do here or any most circumstances is to vote with our $. Everything you do or don't spend your money on is in fact a vote. All money has some form of power and if as a collective we consolidate that power, then it can make a huge difference. #Strengthinnumbers
"However, I would certainly never return should they give this person such a harsh punishment."
Don't return to America.
Regards,
The Central Park 5.
#hypocrites
You do realise they have the death penalty in 27 US states and a convicted felon as President.
Why do something when he knew the consequences? Like that stupid British chav who somehow ended up in Tbilisi georgia with a pile of drugs. No sympathy
Marijuana was legalized in Thailand in June 2022, not November 2024.
And yet they have the death penalty in 27 US states. It’s well known Indonesia and Singapore have harsh rules related to drugs.
Singapore doesn't have harsh rules. Just don't smuggle in stuff. Nobody with a little marijuana was ever executed in Singapore though prison is possible. They only execute smugglers who smuggle in a lot.
192 pieces of 420 candy is a lot, but he won't get the death penalty. The Indonesian authorities are sabre-rattling. In the meantime this young man needs to keep his mouth firmly shut until he's found a lawyer. He really shouldn't have said anything to the cops without speaking to a lawyer first.
Hanafiah bin Bedullah hanged for importing cannabis. Also
Krishna Maikham and Don prompinit.
These governments are ridiculous. We have them a little bit of authority for the greater good and they just ran off with it, usually not caring about the ppl, only money and power.
The President of the United States is a convicted felon (34x), rapist, racist, failed businessperson (many, many times over), smothered in bronzer, clinically obese, and most likely demented in the clinical sense. He just called one of America's legendary singers a "dried out prune." That's the leader of our government. We have no standing to call any other government ridiculous.
What the hell are you mumbling about Arps? It would be beyond a stretch to tie your comment to anything in this particular blog.
So what if we have two consecutive presidents with dementia? Other countries can still be bad. What kind of lawyer spews that stuff? Are you really Skadden Arps? I knew a former Skadden Arps lawyer that was incompetent. She changed to another NYC firm and charges something like $800/hour doing garbage quality work.
What are you even talking about? The leader of the United States has no bearing on your personal opinion of another country’s laws.
You read my comment, but clearly lack reading comprehension skills. Reread and ask yourself did I exclude the US in my generalization?
Indonesia is such a weird place; they have all of these strict laws on the outside, and then Kerobokan prison is one of the top drug smuggling spots. When you hit a distribution amount like he did here, it's tens-hundreds of thousands of dollars, and you'll be out. Realistically, it gets more expensive the longer you wait in Indo.
It's a lovely country, but don't screw around with drugs here. At the same time, he knew the consequences going in.
How many of you did a double take at that headline and thought “American is pretty bad, but a firing squad?”.
Color me 100% unsympathetic. Ben, you and I are roughly the same age and we both grew up in suburban America where we presumably received exposure to the DARE antidrug program in elementary school. Now, say what you want about that program (empirical research found it ineffective or maybe even worse, it increased drug use!)- but the fact is drugs really are, in fact, bad.
Make what you will of the distinction between marijuana and...
Color me 100% unsympathetic. Ben, you and I are roughly the same age and we both grew up in suburban America where we presumably received exposure to the DARE antidrug program in elementary school. Now, say what you want about that program (empirical research found it ineffective or maybe even worse, it increased drug use!)- but the fact is drugs really are, in fact, bad.
Make what you will of the distinction between marijuana and heroin or whatever, drugs are fundamentally mind-altering substances with side effects that can't be fully studied because, inter alia the controlled nature of these substances makes it difficult for researchers to get their hands on them for academic study. And, the rampant lying in self-report data on drug use makes it difficult to perform any retrospective analysis on the effects of drugs.
Ben, I'm 100% confident you, like me, did not use drugs growing up and continue not to partake in drugs whatsoever. I remember when you didn't even drink alcohol, preferring to order Diet Coke with lime on planes.
Drugs aren't something that smart people consume. Even in high finance and banking the drug stereotype is completely overblown, the overwhelming majority of folks do not use drugs. The top private equity principal I know eschews even alcohol and caffeine.
Does this basketball player deserve imprisonment for a victimless crime, of course not, but am I sympathetic? Especially since high profile people usually obtain their drugs through underlings who take the fall for them (another hugely unethical practice but that's another discussion)?
I am 100% unsympathetic
Pretty certain alcohol is far worse for you than most drugs, especially things like ketamine, mushrooms, or even weed. Plenty of smart people do drugs responsibly.
Responsible drug use is abstinence from use, so your statement is what mathematicians would call trivially true. What you’re “pretty certain” of is unfalsifiable (therefore unscientific) because “worse for you” or “better for you” isn’t a measurement along a single dimension. Even assuming arguendo that it were measurable in such a way, the choice of dimension is subjective. Maybe one is better for you mentally but worse for you physically.
Charlie, your body your choice...
Responsible drug use is abstinence from use, so your statement is what mathematicians would call trivially true. What you’re “pretty certain” of is unfalsifiable (therefore unscientific) because “worse for you” or “better for you” isn’t a measurement along a single dimension. Even assuming arguendo that it were measurable in such a way, the choice of dimension is subjective. Maybe one is better for you mentally but worse for you physically.
Charlie, your body your choice and all, but don’t call me or my firm from behind bars. Or ever, for that matter. I don’t accept retarded clients.
Why would someone bother calling the fourth-best law firm in the country, anyway?
I started for a few years at Cravath and then a couple more at Milbank before getting out of Big Law, but when I was there, plenty of the high performing associates and partners were heavy drinkers and/or recreational drug users. Based on people I know who stayed in Big Law and my experience working with these firms as a client, it doesn’t seem much different now including at Skadden.