An American basketball player is in deep legal trouble in Indonesia… and he could face the death penalty… after allegedly receiving a shipment of cannabis-laced candy from Thailand.
Jarred Dwayne Shaw, a 34-year-old former college basketball standout from Dallas, Texas, was arrested on May 7 after Indonesian authorities raided his apartment in Cisauk, Tangerang Regency, near Jakarta. The alarming discovery? 132 Delta-9 THC-infused candies… a quantity that could cost him his life under Indonesia’s notoriously harsh drug laws.
Shaw, who once played for Oklahoma State and Utah State, has been competing in the Indonesian Basketball League since 2022 and recently signed with the Tangerang Hawks. However, his career… and freedom… may be over after this drug bust.
Authorities flagged the package upon its arrival from Thailand, where cannabis has been decriminalized since November 2024. But in Indonesia, marijuana remains a strictly banned substance, and trafficking or possession can lead to life imprisonment or execution by firing squad.
Police say Shaw admitted he planned to share the THC candies with teammates, a statement that could further complicate his case. The total seized cannabis content reportedly weighed 869 grams (30.6 ounces), enough to qualify as a serious trafficking offense.
Soekarno-Hatta Airport Police Chief Ronald Sipayung stated that the case is being investigated further to determine whether it is connected to a larger international drug network.
A video circulating online allegedly shows Shaw shouting “Help… help!” as officers attempt to detain him. At a press conference, he remained silent, wearing an orange detainee shirt, a mask, and hand restraints.
In the wake of the arrest, the Indonesian Basketball League (IBL) immediately issued a lifetime ban, and the Tangerang Hawks terminated Shaw’s contract, stating that he had violated team policy. Interestingly, the club also posted a “Thank You” graphic with Shaw’s photo on its official Instagram… a move that sparked confusion and criticism online.
IBL Chairman Budisatrio Djiwandono issued a strong message: “We do not tolerate any involvement with drugs. There’s no room for drug users in professional basketball.”
