A professional basketball player from the US is facing severe legal consequences in Indonesia after being apprehended with $400 worth of cannabis-infused gummies. The player, identified as Jarred Shaw, was taken into custody by undercover law enforcement officers five months ago in Indonesia.
Originally hailing from Dallas, Texas, the 35-year-old athlete had a career in college basketball with the Utah State Aggies before transitioning to the Santa Cruz Warriors in the NBA development league draft of 2015. Shaw ventured into playing basketball in various countries such as Tunisia, Argentina, Thailand, Uruguay, and Venezuela before moving to Indonesia in 2022 to compete for Prawira Bandung. Subsequently, the 6ft 11″ power forward transferred to Satria Muda Peramina and later to Tangerang Hawks in 2024.
Shaw’s arrest occurred in May when 10 undercover officers intercepted a shipment of 132 cannabis gummies unlawfully imported from Thailand, which Shaw was attempting to collect from an apartment complex in the Tangerang Regency. Consequently, he was terminated by Tangerang Hawks and received a lifetime ban from the Indonesian Basketball League, exacerbating his predicament.
Indonesia’s stringent stance against illicit drugs is well-known, with over 500 individuals on death row in the country, predominantly associated with drug-related offenses. Shaw asserted that he utilized the cannabis gummies for medicinal purposes due to his Crohn’s disease, clarifying in an interview from his prison cell that cannabis was the only remedy alleviating his condition.
Acknowledging his error, Shaw expressed feeling vulnerable and isolated, with his mental well-being significantly affected by the unfolding events. Despite awaiting his court appearance, authorities warned that if convicted, Shaw could potentially face a lengthy prison sentence or even capital punishment. Efforts by advocates, such as Stephanie Shepard from the Last Prisoner Project, are underway to seek Shaw’s release, emphasizing the disproportionate sentencing for non-violent cannabis-related infractions worldwide.
