An American basketball player, Jarred Shaw, is currently facing serious legal consequences in Indonesia after being apprehended with cannabis gummies valued at $400. Shaw, a 35-year-old athlete hailing from Dallas, Texas, had a career in college basketball with Utah State Aggies and later transitioned to the Santa Cruz Warriors in the NBA development league draft of 2015.
His basketball journey took him to various countries like Tunisia, Argentina, Thailand, Uruguay, and Venezuela before landing in Indonesia in 2022 to play for Prawira Bandung. Subsequently, he moved to Satria Muda Peramina and then to Tangerang Hawks in 2024.
In May, Shaw was apprehended by ten undercover officers while attempting to retrieve a package containing 132 cannabis gummies, illicitly imported from Thailand, from an apartment complex in Tangerang Regency. Following his arrest, he was terminated by Tangerang Hawks and barred for life from the Indonesian Basketball League.
Indonesia’s strict stance against drug-related offenses is well-known, with numerous individuals on death row, primarily for drug offenses. Shaw asserts that he used the cannabis gummies for medical purposes to alleviate symptoms of Crohn’s disease, an inflammatory condition he suffers from.
Shaw expressed regret for his actions, acknowledging his error and the toll it has taken on his mental well-being. Despite sharing a cell with multiple inmates, Shaw awaits his trial, with the potential of facing severe penalties including life imprisonment or the death penalty.
Stephanie Shepard, from the Last Prisoner Project, is advocating for Shaw’s release, highlighting the broader issue of individuals facing harsh sentences for non-violent cannabis-related offenses worldwide, contrary to international human rights standards.
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