The 20 Countries with the Harshest Drug Laws in the WorldUnited States drug laws are often considered harsh, but the penalties for carrying or trafficking drugs in other countries, particularly those in Central America, South America, and Southeast Asia, can be much more severe.
MalaysiaIn Malaysia, those who sell drugs can be punished with death. Just for having drugs in your possession, you can be fined, jailed, or deported. Driving drunk is also punished harshly in Malaysia. Malaysian laws also mandate the death penalty for convicted drug traffickers. Unfortunately it does not take much to be branded a drug trafficker here. Whether you are caught with a half-ounce of heroin or seven ounces of marijuana, authorities can arrest you for trafficking drugs. Anyone can be stopped and detained by police for up to two weeks on suspicion of drug use and forcibly tested for any traces of drugs in their system. People who test positive are automatically sentenced to a year of compulsory treatment, even if they're not caught with any drugs at the time.
ChinaIn China, if you are caught with drugs, you could be forced to attend drug rehab in a facility run by the government. Death is the penalty for some drug crimes. According to the Drug Policy Alliance, China adheres strictly to its zero tolerance stance on drug use. In 2009, for example, British-Pakistani national Akmal Shaikh was put to death by fire squad for smuggling heroin, despite the strong objections of Britain's then-prime minister, Gordon Brown. It's hard to over-emphasize the impact of the Opium Wars on modern China. Domestically, it's led to the ultimate collapse of the centuries-old Qing Dynasty, and with it more than two thousand years of dynastic rule. It convinced the country that it had to modernize and industrialize. The history with opium also has led China to adopt a particularly harsh anti-narcotics policy with the death penalty applicable even to mid-level traffickers.
VietnamIn Vietnam, drug crimes are taken very seriously. If you are arrested with more than 1.3 pounds of heroin, you will automatically be executed. Daniel Wolfe of the International Harm Reduction Development Program at the Open Society Foundations said that in Vietnam, drug users, including foreigners, could be forcibly sent to "rehabilitation," which includes near starvation and back-breaking labor. He added, "Even casual drug users are sent for four years to these special 'treatment centers' run by the Department of Social Evils, where they are offered no treatment except forced labor, harsh discipline and torture. And this is in a country that made headlines by 'decriminalizing' drug use a few years ago."
IranIran is not known to be tolerant of criminal offenses in general, and drug offenses are no different. The use of opium is a particular problem in Iran, in part because it is produced in neighboring Afghanistan. If you are caught with drugs in Iran, the best case scenario is a large fine and the worst-case scenario is the death penalty.
ThailandIn Thailand, those trafficking narcotics may be put to death. Drug users are frequently sentenced to mandatory rehab.
DubaiDubai is known to be very intolerant of drug abuse. Many prescription drugs that are legal in other parts of the world can get you put in jail in Dubai. It is typical for drug offenders to be sentenced to four years in prison and then be deported. Failing a drug test can be grounds for incarceration Dubai, even if you are not in possession of any drugs.
Saudi ArabiaThe sale of drugs in Saudi Arabia almost always results in the death penalty. Saudi Arabia and judicial authorities are not inclined to make exceptions. Alcohol use is illegal in Saudi Arabia, and possession or use of alcohol or drugs can be punished by public flogging, fines, lengthy imprisonment, or death.
SingaporeSingaporean police will assume that you are selling drugs if you are caught with relatively small amounts. If you are convicted of selling drugs, you will be sentenced to death.
CambodiaIn Cambodia, you can be sentenced to many years in prison or even life in prison for possessing drugs. Unlike many other South Asian countries, Cambodia does not mandate the death penalty for drug trafficking.
IndonesiaIndonesian drug laws are harsh. If you are caught with marijuana, you can get up to twenty years in jail. Other drugs carry jail terms of up to twelve years, and the sale of drugs is punishable by death. Authorities recently said Indonesia is preparing to execute more foreigners convicted of drug offenses. Executions last year caused an international outcry. Indonesia has extremely strict drug laws and more than 130 people on death row, mostly for drug crimes. Jokowi said through an interpreter: "Implementation of the death penalty is carried out cautiously." He spoke after meeting German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who underlined Germany's opposition to capital punishment and its wish for Indonesia "not to implement it if possible."
LaosIf you’re caught with drugs in Laos, you could pay up to $35,000. If you are found with narcotics, you could spend ten years or more in prison.
North KoreaForeigners rarely visit North Korea, but there are several tour groups that can help you visit the reclusive nation. Do not bring drugs into North Korea, because you could find yourself sentenced to an extremely lengthy stay in a prison camp. You will have no contact with your friends or family, and it may be very difficult for the United States government to intervene.
The PhilippinesIn the Philippines, drug traffickers are sentenced to death. You may be presumed to be a drug trafficker if you have more than a third of an ounce of a drug in your possession.
TurkeyPenalties for drug possession in Turkey include large fines and long prison sentences. Penalties for selling drugs can be even stricter.
Costa RicaAs in other South American countries, possession of drugs in Costa Rica can land you in jail for a lengthy stay.
ColumbiaIf you get caught with drugs in Columbia, you will spend a long time in a very unpleasant prison. Police make several arrests a day at airports in Columbia, catching many foreign nationals.