A professional basketball player from the United States is facing severe legal consequences after being apprehended with cannabis gummies valued at $400. Jarred Shaw, a 35-year-old athlete hailing from Dallas, Texas, was arrested by undercover law enforcement officers in Indonesia five months ago.
Shaw, who previously played college basketball for Utah State Aggies and later joined the Santa Cruz Warriors in the 2015 NBA development league draft, has had a diverse career playing in various countries like Tunisia, Argentina, Thailand, Uruguay, and Venezuela. He moved to Indonesia in 2022 to play for Prawira Bandung, then shifted to Satria Muda Peramina before his last move to Tangerang Hawks in 2024.
The arrest occurred in May when Shaw was intercepted by 10 undercover officers while collecting a package containing 132 cannabis gummies that had been unlawfully imported from Thailand. Following the incident, Shaw was dismissed from Tangerang Hawks and handed a lifetime ban from the Indonesian Basketball League. However, the legal implications now pose a more severe threat.
Indonesia is known for its strict stance against illegal drugs, with over 500 individuals on death row in connection to drug offenses. Shaw has stated that he used the cannabis gummies for medicinal purposes to manage his Crohn’s disease, a chronic inflammatory condition. Despite his explanation, Shaw acknowledged his error in judgment and expressed feelings of helplessness and isolation, with his mental health deteriorating due to the situation.
Currently awaiting his court appearance, Shaw faces the possibility of a life sentence or even the death penalty, as indicated by Soekarno-Hatta Airport police chief, Ronald Sipayung. The investigation is ongoing to uncover any international drug networks involved in the case and prevent further distribution. Advocates like Stephanie Shepard from the Last Prisoner Project are advocating for Shaw’s release, emphasizing the disproportionate sentences imposed for non-violent cannabis-related offenses worldwide, which contradict international human rights standards.