A professional basketball player from the United States is facing severe legal consequences, including life imprisonment or the death penalty, following his apprehension with a stash of cannabis gummies valued at $400. Jarred Shaw, a 35-year-old athlete hailing from Dallas, Texas, had his run-in with law enforcement in Indonesia five months ago when undercover officers nabbed him.
Originally associated with the Utah State Aggies in college basketball, Shaw transitioned to the Santa Cruz Warriors through the 2015 NBA development league draft. His career spanned various countries, such as Tunisia, Argentina, Thailand, Uruguay, and Venezuela, before he landed in Indonesia in 2022 to play for Prawira Bandung. Subsequently, the 6ft 11″ power forward shifted to Satria Muda Peramina and later to Tangerang Hawks in 2024.
The arrest transpired in May when Shaw was intercepted by ten undercover officers retrieving a shipment of 132 cannabis gummies unlawfully imported from Thailand. He was apprehended while collecting the package from an apartment complex in Tangerang Regency. Consequently, Shaw was terminated by Tangerang Hawks and sanctioned with a lifetime ban from the Indonesian Basketball League, exacerbating his predicament.
Indonesia’s stringent anti-drug policies are well-known, with over 500 individuals on death row in the country, predominantly for drug-related offenses. Shaw contends that he utilized the cannabis gummies for medicinal purposes to alleviate symptoms of Crohn’s disease. In an interview with the Guardian from his prison cell, Shaw disclosed his reliance on cannabis to manage the excruciating effects of his incurable inflammatory condition.
Expressing remorse for his actions, Shaw acknowledged his error in judgment, expressing feelings of helplessness and isolation as his mental well-being deteriorated amidst the legal turmoil. Currently detained alongside numerous other inmates, Shaw awaits his court hearing, with authorities highlighting the potential for a life sentence or even capital punishment if convicted.
Stephanie Shepard, the director of advocacy at Last Prisoner Project (LPP), is advocating for Shaw’s release, emphasizing the disproportionate sentencing for non-violent cannabis-related offenses worldwide. The ongoing investigation aims to dismantle the international drug network associated with Shaw’s case and prevent further drug trafficking activities.