JAKARTA, Indonesia — An American basketball player has been arrested in Indonesia for allegedly attempting to smuggle illegal drugs into the country, authorities announced Thursday, highlighting the country’s uncompromising stance on narcotics violations.
Jarred Dwayne Shaw, a 34-year-old athlete from Dallas, Texas, who has played in the Indonesian Basketball League since 2022, was taken into custody on May 7 after police raided his apartment in Tangerang regency, near Jakarta. The arrest followed a tip from airport customs officials who had flagged a suspicious package shipped to Shaw from Thailand.
According to Soekarno-Hatta Airport Police Chief Ronald Sipayung, the raid uncovered 132 pieces of cannabis-infused candy, totaling 869 grams (30.6 ounces) of illegal cannabinoids. Indonesia considers cannabis a Category 1 narcotic, and if convicted, Shaw could face a life sentence or the death penalty under the nation’s stringent anti-drug laws.
“Investigations are still ongoing to uncover the international drug network behind this case and prevent further distribution,” Sipayung said.
A video circulating on social media appears to show the moment of Shaw’s arrest, with the athlete wearing a black T-shirt and shorts, struggling against officers while shouting, “Help… help!” He made no public statement during his official presentation to the press, where he appeared in an orange detainee uniform and wore a face mask with his hands bound.
Shaw, who most recently played for the Tangerang Hawks, allegedly told police during interrogation that he intended to share the cannabis candy with fellow basketball players. He had signed with the club in 2023 and was a well-known figure in the league.
His arrest sparked immediate disciplinary action. The Tangerang Hawks terminated his contract, citing a breach of terms. “We deeply regret what has happened,” said team manager Tikky Suwantikno. “His actions are unacceptable and violate both team and league policies.”
The Indonesian Basketball League followed by issuing Shaw a lifetime ban. “We don’t tolerate players, administrators or anyone involved in drug activities. There is no room for drug users in basketball,” said league chair Budisatrio Djiwandono.
Indonesia is widely recognized for its uncompromising drug enforcement. Despite some of the harshest drug laws in the world, including capital punishment, the country remains a major hub for smuggling, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. Authorities say international drug syndicates often target Indonesia’s large youth population.
As of this year, more than 530 people are on death row in Indonesia, most of them for drug-related offenses. This includes 96 foreign nationals. The country’s most recent executions occurred in 2016, involving three foreigners and one Indonesian citizen.
Shaw’s case has underscored the high risks foreigners face when violating Indonesia’s drug laws, particularly as Thailand — where the cannabis candy originated — decriminalized marijuana in late 2024. While legal there, cannabis remains strictly prohibited in Indonesia, and even minor infractions can carry severe consequences.
