Jarred Shaw, a 34-year-old basketball player in Indonesia’s basketball league, was taken into custody for supposedly trying to smuggle illegal drugs into the country, according to police reports from Thursday.
If Shaw is found guilty, he could face severe penalties, including life imprisonment or even the death penalty, as Indonesia has stringent drug laws. In the past, smugglers have been executed by firing squad.
Ronald Sipayung, the police chief at Soekarno-Hatta airport, stated that authorities raided Shaw’s apartment near Jakarta, confiscating 132 cannabis-infused candies. The airport customs had initially alerted police, indicating that a suspicious package from Thailand had been intercepted. While cannabis is decriminalized in Thailand, it remains illegal in Indonesia.
Shaw reportedly mentioned to police that he planned to share the candies with his teammates.
Sipayung added, “We are still conducting research to uncover the international drug network behind this case and to prevent its distribution.” Meanwhile, Shaw appeared at a press conference on Wednesday wearing an orange t-shirt and a mask.
Shaw had played for various teams in the Indonesian Basketball League, including the Tangerang Hawks, which he joined last year. He has been active in the league since 2022.
However, Tikki Swantychno, the Hawks’ manager, indicated that Shaw was quickly released on Thursday due to a breach of contract, and the league has banned him from playing. Budisatrio Diwandno, chairman of Indonesia’s Basketball League, stated firmly, “We don’t tolerate any player, administrator, or anyone involved in drugs. There is no space for drug users in basketball.”
According to the Ministry of Immigration and Corrections, about 530 inmates on death row in Indonesia are mainly there for drug-related offenses, with 96 being foreigners. The last executions occurred in July 2016 when several individuals, including three foreigners, were executed.
Shaw, originally from Dallas, had a notable collegiate basketball career, playing for schools in Oklahoma and Utah, where he averaged 14.2 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks in his 58 games with the Utah State Aggies, logging around 28.3 minutes per game.
