A professional basketball player from the United States is facing severe legal consequences in Indonesia for possessing cannabis gummies valued at $400. Jarred Shaw, a 35-year-old athlete hailing from Dallas, Texas, was apprehended by undercover law enforcement officers five months ago.
Shaw, who previously played college basketball for Utah State Aggies and later joined the Santa Cruz Warriors in the NBA development league draft of 2015, has had a diverse career spanning various countries, including Tunisia, Argentina, Thailand, Uruguay, and Venezuela. His journey led him to Indonesia in 2022, where he represented Prawira Bandung before moving to Satria Muda Peramina and eventually to Tangerang Hawks in 2024.
The arrest of Shaw occurred in May when he was intercepted by ten undercover officers while attempting to collect an illegal shipment of 132 cannabis gummies imported from Thailand at an apartment complex in Tangerang Regency. Subsequently, Shaw was terminated by Tangerang Hawks and handed a lifetime ban from the Indonesian Basketball League.
Indonesia’s strict stance against illicit drugs is well-known, with over 500 individuals on death row in the country, primarily for drug-related offenses. Shaw claimed that he used the cannabis gummies for medicinal purposes to alleviate symptoms of Crohn’s disease, an inflammatory condition he suffers from.
Acknowledging his error in judgment, Shaw expressed feelings of helplessness and isolation, with his mental health significantly impacted by the ordeal. Currently detained and awaiting trial, Shaw faces the possibility of a life sentence or even the death penalty, as highlighted by Soekarno-Hatta Airport police chief, Ronald Sipayung.
Stephanie Shepard, the director of advocacy at Last Prisoner Project (LPP), is advocating for Shaw’s release, emphasizing that his situation reflects a broader issue of individuals receiving severe sentences for non-violent cannabis-related offenses that do not endanger public safety.
