American Basketball Player Arrested in Indonesia for Alleged Drug Smuggling

Jarred Shaw played basketball for Utah State

An American professional basketball player competing in the Indonesian Basketball League has been arrested for allegedly attempting to smuggle illegal drugs into the country, police confirmed.

Jarred Dwayne Shaw, 34, from Dallas, Texas, was apprehended on May 7 after authorities raided his apartment in Tangerang regency, near Jakarta. The operation, led by Soekarno-Hatta Airport police, resulted in the seizure of 132 pieces of cannabis-infused candy, according to Police Chief Ronald Sipayung.

The arrest followed a tip-off from customs officials at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, who flagged a suspicious package Shaw received from Thailand. Cannabis was decriminalized in Thailand in November 2024, but under Indonesia’s harsh anti-drug laws, possession or trafficking of marijuana remains punishable by life imprisonment or the death penalty.

During interrogation, Shaw reportedly admitted that he had planned to share the cannabis-laced candies with fellow basketball players. Authorities stated the total gross weight of the illegal cannabinoid content was approximately 869 grams (30.6 ounces).

A video circulated on social media appears to show Shaw resisting arrest, dressed in a black T-shirt and shorts, and shouting “Help… help!” as police attempted to detain him.

Shaw has played for various teams in the Indonesian Basketball League since 2022 and signed with the Tangerang Hawks last year. Following the arrest, Tangerang Hawks’ manager Tikky Suwantikno confirmed that Shaw had been immediately terminated for violating his contract.

The Indonesian Basketball League also imposed a lifetime ban on Shaw. Chair of the league, Budisatrio Djiwandono, stated, “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.”

Authorities are continuing their investigation to trace the source and broader network behind the drug shipment. “We are still running the investigation to uncover the international drugs network behind this case and to stop its distribution,” said Sipayung.

Shaw did not speak publicly when presented at a police news conference. He was dressed in an orange detainee uniform, masked, and had his hands restrained.

Indonesia is known for its zero-tolerance stance on drug-related offenses. According to data from the Ministry of Immigration and Corrections, approximately 530 individuals are currently on death row in the country—most for drug-related crimes—including 96 foreign nationals. The last executions carried out in Indonesia took place in July 2016.