China to execute British man for heroin possession

[alp227]

BBC reports, the Supreme People's Court of China has denied the appeal of Akmal Shaikh, a 51-year-old from North London, in response to his planned execution for possessing 4 kg of heroin. He supposedly has bipolar disorder and is the first European citizen executed in China since 1959. Seriously, this is the extent to which China would bring out the needle. At least in America, narc possession could get at most life without parole in some cases.

[Poll_Blind]

1. I can think of few ideas universally-known to be terrible ones like smuggling drugs in Asian...

...countries. I think at least if you jump into the grizzly bear pit at the zoo someone's going to be able to help you in some way.

PB

[Democrats_win]

2. We always need reminders that justice does not exist in this world.

Just think, this man will be killed while in a Texas suburb sits one of the world's biggest murderers: George W. Bush. Ironically, Bush probably possesed all kinds of drugs during his pre-forty years. You know, before he became the adult screw-up.

[jmowreader]

3. We're weeping over a man busted with NINE POUNDS of smack?

According to erowid, the Swiss prescribe heroin to their hardest-core junkies, and monitor their intake of the drug. Given unlimited supplies of heroin, a very dedicated user will consume about half a gram of heroin per day. Four kilos of heroin, therefore, is enough heroin to keep 22 addicts satisfied for a full year--or supply 8000 addicts with one day's fix. No wonder they're killing him--this was a very large bust for China.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

10. Do YOU weep that in the West people busted with drugs do NOT get the DP? -nt

[jmowreader]

13. No...

I also don't weep when heroin kingpins get thrown in jail for the rest of their lives.

From what I have read, some criminals talked him into flying the heroin into China by convincing him he was going to be able to record a "hit single" that would "usher in world peace." Which put him in possession of four keys of heroin to be taken through Chinese customs. I have to wonder: assuming all this is true, were the criminals attempting to send heroin into China (this seems a very strange way to do it--they know there are Customs agents at all international airports) or to kill this man?

[DemoTex]

4. In 1994 I covered the Singapore Air Show ..

When I entered Singapore at Changi International Airport a visa was attached to my US passport. In bold red letters at the top of the visa was this warning: THE PENALTY FOR POSSESSION OF ILLEGAL DRUGS IS DEATH.

[SoCalDem]

5. if you commit a crime overseas, you must deal with the consequences

Many people have the mistaken idea, that our state department will swoop in and save them.. it will not.. (unless maybe you work for Al Gore)

[TK421]

6. Yeah...but was he driving a car when he was busted?

:D

[malaise]

7. Hmmmmmmmmm

the US government invaded a country illegally and hanged its president.
They're all the fucking same to me.

[alp227]

8. update: China affirms that it respects Shaikh's rights, and his execution will be on the 29th

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/8425890.stm

Some interesting developments.

[Matariki]

9. How much is 4 kg of heroin?

I mean, is that a personal use amount or a drug smugglers amount?

[goldcanyonaz]

12. I believe 1 kilo = 2.2 lbs. Quite a bit for personal use, unless you have a family of 1000.

[jmowreader]

14. It's about nine pounds

Assume it's uncut. One kilo is enough for a day's dose for 2000 addicts. Multiply by four...it's definitely a wholesaler amount.

[historian]

11. a bit of history here

The british in particular, with some help from other western countries, made fortunes in china in the 1700's by selling heroin to the chinese therefore creating a nation of addicts all for the sake of money. Is there any doubt why the chinese are not too thrilled about brits bringing heroin into china? Besides lets face it - if an asian, arab or african were in the same situation would be making such a fuss?