Jarred Dwayne Shaw, a 34-year-old professional basketball player from Dallas, Texas, was arrested earlier this month in Indonesia after authorities allege he attempted to smuggle 132 cannabis-infused candies into the country.
If convicted, Shaw could face the death penalty by firing squad under Indonesia’s notoriously strict drug laws.
Shaw, who played college basketball at Oklahoma State and Utah State, has been a part of the Indonesian Basketball League (IBL) since 2022, most recently with the Tangerang Hawks.
On May 7, 2025, police raided Shaw’s apartment in Tangerang, near Jakarta, following a tip from customs agents at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, who had flagged a suspicious package arriving from Thailand, where cannabis was decriminalized in November 2024.
Authorities say the raid uncovered 132 individually wrapped candies, which reportedly contained a total of 869 grams (30.6 ounces) of illegal cannabinoids.
Indonesian law classifies cannabis as a Class I narcotic, and possession or distribution is punishable by lengthy prison terms or death.
According to Indonesian police, Shaw intended to share the edibles with teammates, a claim that could potentially escalate the severity of the charges under distribution and trafficking statutes.
The Tangerang Hawks immediately terminated Shaw’s contract, issuing a statement condemning drug use and reaffirming their commitment to league regulations. The Indonesian Basketball League also denounced the alleged offense, stating that athletes must uphold the law and serve as role models.
Indonesia is widely regarded as having one of the harshest drug enforcement systems in the world. Approximately 530 individuals—including 96 foreign nationals—are currently on death row, most of them convicted of drug-related crimes.
Legal experts say Shaw’s case is likely to be closely monitored by U.S. consular officials and may become a flashpoint in ongoing international discussions around drug policy and criminal justice reform.
No trial date has been announced, and Shaw remains in police custody pending further investigation.
