A former college basketball star is facing the death penalty in Indonesia for allegedly attempting to smuggle drugs into the country following a raid on his home that uncovered nearly two pounds of cannabis-infused candies.
Jarred Dwayne Shaw, who dazzled on the court for Oklahoma State and Utah State between 2009 and 2014, was in his third year playing for the Indonesian Basketball Association PERBASI when he was arrested at the Soekarno-Hatta Airport on May 7.
Officials had raided Shaw’s apartment in the Tangerang Regency, west of the capital Jarkata, following a tip that claimed the basketball player had received a suspicious package from Thailand, airport police chief Ronald Sipayung told reporters.
Utah State’s Jarred Shaw plays the ball during a game against the UNLV Rebels in Las Vegas on Jan. 22, 2014. Getty Images
Indonesia has strict laws against cannabis, but Thailand decriminalized the psychoactive drug in November 2024.
Indonesia is considered a major hub in the global drug smuggling operation, despite the harsh penalties for convicted criminals.
“Indonesia’s border weaknesses exacerbate the country’s vulnerability to trafficking of persons, drugs and natural resources, as well as smuggling of migrants,” the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime said.
Police allegedly seized 132 pieces of the cannabis sweets that contained the class 1 narcotic Delta 9 ThC and weighed 30 ounces from Shaw’s apartment.
The 20 packs of “Vita Bites” were sent from Bangkok and addressed to Shaw’s Casa De Parco Apartment, Gardenia Tower, Sipayung said, according to the Independent Observer.
The Tangerang Hawks fired the 34-year-old Dallas native for breach of contract on Thursday.
Jarred Shaw poses for a photo posted to Instagram on Feb. 25, 2025. Instagram/slimnojim16_
He also received a lifetime ban from the league.
“We don’t tolerate players, administrators or anyone in the field involved in drugs. There is no room for drug users in the basketball world,” PERBASI Chair Budisatrio Djiwandono said.
The Indonesian Basketball League doubled down on Djiwandono’s ruling, warning potential violators of similar punishments.
“IBL together with PERBASI will enforce a blacklist, banning violators from participating or engaging in any activities within the IBL,” said IBL CEO Junas Miradiarsyah, according to the outlet.
The 34-year-old Dallas native was fired by his team, the Tangerang Hawks, for breach of contract on Thursday. Instagram/slimnojim16_
If convicted, Shaw faces up to life in prison or the death penalty.
Shaw was named the District 11-4A Defensive Player of the Year in 2008-09 after a standout senior season at Carter High School in Texas.
In 2009, Shaw committed to play college basketball at Oklahoma State before transferring to Utah State in 2011.
The 6’10” forward was the Preseason WAC Newcomer of the Year in 2012 and finished his career with the Aggies ranked 73rd in overall rebounding.
Jarred Shaw poses for a media day photo with the Santa Cruz Warriors on Nov. 6, 2015. NBAE via Getty Images
He started in 27 games in Logan, Utah, finishing his senior year averaging 14.1 points per game, tied for 13th in the conference.
In 2014, Shaw was sentenced to 10 days in jail after pleading guilty to possession of a controlled substance.
He was drafted by the Santa Cruz Warriors in the 2015 NBA Developmental League draft and played in several leagues around the world before landing in Indonesia in 2022.
Approximately 530 inmates are currently facing execution in Indonesia — a majority for drug crimes.
Ninety-six foreigners are among the country’s death row population.
The last drug-related executions in Indonesia took place in July 2016 when an Indonesian national and three foreigners were put too death.
With Post wires