Former College Basketball Star Jarred Shaw Could Be Given Death Penalty Over Alleged Weed Charges

Jarred Shaw, a former star in college basketball, was placed under arrest recently on alleged drug smuggling charges in Indonesia, and as a result, he’s now up against a potential sentence of the death penalty.

Taking place at the Soekarno-Hatta Airport, the ex-center of Utah State and Oklahoma State was placed under arrest May 7. Police allegedly discovered a total of 132 marijuana candy pieces that came in at a weight of 30 ounces. (RELATED: Former MLB All-Star Rafael Furcal Reportedly Turns Himself In After ‘Throwing A Deadly’ Missile Into Occupied Vehicle)

Shaw was in his third season of playing in the Indonesian Basketball Association, a professional basketball league in Indonesia. He received the drugs at the airport, which is a major violation to the government in the Asian country. His Tangerang Regency apartment, which is near the capital city of Jakarta, was raided by police.

The biggest beef against Shaw was how he attempted to buy marijuana edibles. Officials in Indonesia say that a tip they received from the customs departments located at the airport set them off. Shaw allegedly got an airway package sent from Thailand that was considered suspicious. After that, his apartment was raided.

Jarred Shaw, a Dallas native and basketball player in Indonesia, could face death penalty over cannabis candy. https://t.co/cmz0TO9EYI

— CBS News (@CBSNews) May 15, 2025

In Thailand, marijuana is legal, but it’s a high-profile crime in Indonesia. Per the drug laws in the nation, Shaw could potentially get sentenced to life in prison, or even get the death penalty.