Basketball Player Jarred Shaw Arrested for Drug Smuggling in Indonesia

JAKARTA, Indonesia — Jarred Shaw, a 34-year-old American basketball player, was arrested this week for allegedly attempting to smuggle illegal drugs into Indonesia, officials said Thursday. Indonesia’s stringent drug laws impose severe penalties, including the death penalty for convicted smugglers.

Shaw, who currently plays in the Indonesian Basketball League, was taken into custody on May 7 after police raided his apartment in Tangerang, a suburb of Jakarta. During the raid, authorities discovered 132 pieces of cannabis-infused candy, weighing a total of 869 grams (30.6 ounces), according to Ronald Sipayung, police chief at Soekarno-Hatta Airport.

The arrest followed a warning from customs officials, who flagged a suspicious package sent from Thailand. While cannabis is decriminalized in Thailand, it remains illegal in Indonesia. Shaw reportedly told police he wanted to share the candy with his teammates.

“We are still running the investigation to uncover the international drugs network behind this case and to stop its distribution,” Sipayung said.

Dressed in an orange detainee shirt during a news conference, Shaw did not make statements but appeared distressed. His contract with the Tangerang Hawks was terminated immediately due to the breach of contract, according to team manager Tikky Suwantikno.

Indonesian Basketball League Chair Budisatrio Djiwandono emphasized that there is no tolerance for drug-related activities in basketball, stating, “We don’t tolerate players, administrators, or anyone in the field involved in drugs.”

Shaw has played in the Indonesian league since 2022. He also had a college basketball career at Utah State, where he averaged 14.2 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. If convicted, Shaw could face life in prison or the death penalty, as Indonesia currently has around 530 people on death row for drug-related crimes, including many foreigners.

The last executions in Indonesia occurred in July 2016.