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Singapore Sentences Ghanaian Drug Trafficker to Death

Sat, Jan 03, 2009 2:59 pm

more: headline news, drug policy news, smuggling, busted

SINGAPORE (AFP) — A 20-year-old Ghanaian has been sentenced to death in Singapore for trafficking 2.6 kilograms (5.73 pounds) of cannabis, the Straits Times reported Saturday.

The High Court convicted and sentenced Chijioke Stephen Obioha on Tuesday after a 21-day trial held last year, it said.

Under Singapore's tough anti-drug laws, the death penalty is mandatory for anyone caught trafficking more than 15 grams of heroin, 30 grams of cocaine or 500 grams of cannabis.

The death penalty is carried out by hanging.

Narcotics officers arrested Obioha in April 2007 following a surveillance operation. He had come to Singapore in 2005 to try out for a football club, the report said.

He was not hired but remained in the city-state working as a middle man for electronics goods dealers. His immigration pass expired in January 2007.

Human rights groups have strongly urged Singapore to abolish the death penalty, but the government maintains that it plays a key role in keeping crime down and is a strong deterrent to organised crime gangs.

In December 2004 Singapore hanged a 25-year-old Australian drug runner Nguyen Tuong Van, despite appeals for clemency by then Prime Minister John Howard.

Two convicted African drug traffickers were put to death in 2007 after their appeals for clemency were turned down and despite protests from the United Nations and rights activists.

» add a comment

big titty

Feb 28 2009, 10:54 am

hang him he got caught let the man hang with his head held high because hes glad to die for what he believed in!!

umm

Jan 28 2009, 11:10 pm

Not a victim?

God. Where do these idiots come from!
We are all VICTIMS of the abuse of power of the government. Unless we live in states that allow our imbibation, we are constantly afraid the haters are "coming to get us".

to stonebox

Jan 28 2009, 7:10 am

You are not a victim . You CHOOSE to smoke weed knowing the consequences before hand . If you can't manage to keep from getting caught , you should control your urges until such a time that it is no longer a crime .

stonebox

Jan 23 2009, 1:57 am

nuke singapore. Or just assassinate their entire government.

*IF* the U.S. ever tried to pass a death penalty for anything cannabis related, it would probably be the BEST thing that could possibly happen for the pro-cannabis movement.

They've already declared their WAR on cannabis users. Millions of us have been incarcerated and had our livelihood confiscated. If they pass a law to start executing us, we finally get to fight back for REAL. They already use threats against us constantly... a threat of death will be retaliated against, with profound ferocity. But honestly, i think they know that would remove our only reason not to use violence. Removing our last remaining reason for complacence would be a very bad move on their part.

I DARE them to try it. Seriously. They'll find out just how fast they can lose. Both sides will lose massive numbers, but 90% of the fence-sitters will finally wake up, and see it for what it is, and rise up along side the Freemen.

There would be a Coup, and all these unjust laws and doublespeaking politicians would cease to have any power over any of us.

j.a.s.

Jan 11 2009, 10:28 am

I just remembered, "Return to Paradise" is free on Hulu.com which is a great 'free movie' website. You have to be a registered user to watch rated R stuff, but that's free too.

cheers

just another smoker

Jan 11 2009, 10:26 am

This news reminds me of a movie from like 10 years ago, called "Return to Paradise" ...It has Joaquin Phoenix, Vince Vaughn, and some other dude, but all three of them are vacationing in Malaysia and after two of them leave, Joaquin Phoenix stays behind, and they leave a whole ass-load of hash with him, and he gets busted and sent to prison there, and then he eventually gets the death penalty. It's a great drama, and anyone who read this article should watch this movie.

Also I think Anne Heche shows her tits ;-D

Cheers

captain aimless

Jan 9 2009, 12:09 am

eweezy is a dumbshit, cops are just doing their jobs you dont shoot at them, its the govornment thats the issue, the world just needs to wise up and realize that everybody smokes pot, its safer than alcohol and tabacco and should be worldly decriminalized, hell with how fucked up the economy is the america stands to make a shitload of cash off taxin it even if people still grow it at home, id switch to buyin it if it was legal

eweezy

Jan 8 2009, 10:05 am

I bet that if everyone that was a dealer shot 2 or 3 cops when they went after them that they would think twice. you would just have to spend your free time trianing to be a G.

eweezy

Jan 8 2009, 10:03 am

Shit if I knew that they would put me to death for somthing i was doing i would either 1. not do it or 2. Be straped the fuck up with fully automatic wepons with mad extra clips and shoot my fuckin way out or die tryin

BaKeD in WI

Jan 7 2009, 10:36 am

Grow the Ganja.

Dale

Jan 7 2009, 2:42 am

Hmmm...A law like that makes me think that the real drug smugglers in the country have the law makers right inside their pockets. That insures only small-timers get busted and also keeps profits sky-high!!!!!

Twisted

Jan 6 2009, 3:23 pm

So you are telling me that the drugs didnt make it to its destination?...Thats crazy

HU210

Jan 5 2009, 6:54 pm

Well, WTF. If they start hanging tokers here in the U.S.,...
I would consider it a victory if they hung me with an American grown and spun hemp rope.

dan slam an iraq vet

Jan 5 2009, 5:28 pm

i think its easer to get a 12 yo pro then some good ganja in singapore...and to the asian dealer....best wishes and good luck slanging! ill be pulling for you!!

WTF

Jan 5 2009, 3:03 pm

If we don't change things in the US we could end up at the end of rope as well. FREE THE WEED because we will never fucking quit smoking it!!!!!!!!!

ali

Jan 5 2009, 12:00 pm

20 though sentenced to death off fuckin 5 measly pounds

to below

Jan 4 2009, 4:01 pm

y a w n n n .... zzzZZZZ

gstlab3

Jan 4 2009, 12:16 pm

SAME THING HAPPENS HERE IN THE USA EVERY DAY!! WAKE UP! HOW MANY YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SLAUGHTERED ON THE STREETS DURING OUR GOVERNMENT MANDATED DRUG WAR AND HOW ABOUT THE WAR THEY ARE WAGING ON THE TRUTH? WHAT THE FUCK ABOUT THAT!? PROHIBITION IS THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL HERE., AND THE LOVE AND THE WANT OF THE POWER IT BRINGS IS THE END OF ALL WHO EMBRACE IT !!!!!! AND OF COURSE YOU ALL WILL CHOKE ON THE MONEY EITHER IN CONTINUING TO PAY HIGHER TAXES TO FUND THE DRUG WAR OR YOU WILL BE KILLED FOR THE MONEY YOU GOT STASHED FROM BEING IN THE BLACK MARKET DEALING THE CONTRABAN., OR THE GOVERMENT WILL FIND OUT YOU STOLE FROM THEM AND THERE PROFIT MARGIN AND YOUR LIFE WILL END THERE TOO!!!

the last straw

Jan 4 2009, 10:23 am

thats it singapore, no more cheap african diamonds for you.

bullshiit

Jan 4 2009, 12:13 am

mannn thats way tooooo stricct seriously a death penalty for 2-3 pounds , fuckin strict governments

mr.Green leaf

Jan 3 2009, 11:25 pm

you dont have 2 go 2 jail keep same clinents no HMO smell me

Second Biggist Dealer in Asia

Jan 3 2009, 6:56 pm

Go for it ..chop chop .

dont be greedy

Jan 3 2009, 4:34 pm

"Biggest Dealer in Asia" quit while you are ahead.

anonymous

Jan 3 2009, 4:32 pm

"biggest dealer in asia" quit dealing while u are ahead.

Universe

Jan 3 2009, 4:05 pm

Listen to me - don't take life too seriously because none of you are going to get out alive.

Biggest Dealer in Asia

Jan 3 2009, 3:58 pm

I've been dealing drugs for 12 years and I have not been caught yet. The day will come when I do get caught and I will embrace it.