Archive · 30 Aug 2026
Vietnam Moves to End Death Penalty for Drug Trafficking
Vietnam wants to stop executing people convicted of drug trafficking.
The proposed law would still allow executions for making illegal narcotics and for three other extremely serious crimes.
Those crimes are treason, murder and terrorism.
A criminologist said this is a gradual narrowing of the death penalty rather than a sudden change.
He also said removing executions for traffickers may not greatly change drug availability.
Drug markets can quickly replace arrested people and change routes.
Singapore still uses the death penalty in some major trafficking cases and says it helps deter drug crimes.
Malaysia has given judges more choice between execution and life imprisonment.
These different policies show that countries disagree about how best to prevent drug trafficking.
Vietnam has proposed removing drug trafficking from the list of crimes punishable by execution.
The death penalty would remain for treason, murder, terrorism and illegal narcotics production.
Criminologist Hai Thanh Luong described the proposal as a gradual reduction of capital punishment, not a sudden policy shift.
Singapore continues to permit executions for the most serious trafficking cases, while Malaysia ended mandatory death sentences in 2023.
Supporters cite deterrence, while critics question whether executions significantly reduce drug supplies and trafficking.
- Who
- Vietnamese lawmakers are considering the proposal; criminologist Hai Thanh Luong and officials and legal experts from Singapore and Malaysia commented on the issue.
- What
- A draft Penal Code revision would remove drug trafficking from Vietnam's capital offenses while retaining the death penalty for four crimes.
- When
- The proposal was presented to lawmakers last week; Malaysia ended mandatory death sentences in 2023.
- Where
- Vietnam, with comparisons involving Malaysia and Singapore.
- Why
- The proposal forms part of Vietnam's gradual legal and political reform and broader debate over deterrence, judicial discretion and the relevance of capital punishment.
Capital-Punishment Reduction
Capital-Punishment Retention
Does execution deter trafficking?
Capital-Punishment Reduction
Hai Thanh Luong questioned whether executions can suppress drug supplies, saying drug markets can replace arrested individuals and change trafficking routes.
Capital-Punishment Retention
Singapore's Ministry of Home Affairs cited survey results showing that 84.2% of respondents believed the death penalty deters large-scale drug trafficking and 82.5% considered it more effective than life imprisonment.
How should courts punish offenders?
Capital-Punishment Reduction
Malaysia's post-2023 system gives courts discretion to consider mitigating factors, including a limited role as a courier, the drugs involved and an early guilty plea.
Capital-Punishment Retention
Singapore continues to support strict penalties, including execution for the most serious trafficking cases involving quantities above legal thresholds.
Vietnam's reform direction
Capital-Punishment Reduction
Removing drug trafficking from capital offenses is viewed as part of gradual legal and political reform and a narrowing of the death penalty.
Capital-Punishment Retention
Retaining execution for illegal narcotics production reflects the view that manufacturers play a central role in sustaining the drug trade.
- Proposed change
- Vietnam would remove drug trafficking from the list of crimes punishable by death.
- Remaining capital crimes
- Treason, murder, terrorism and illegal narcotics production.
- Vietnam's approach
- Hai Thanh Luong called it “retentionist-but-reductionist,” meaning the state is narrowing the number of capital offenses while retaining the punishment for exceptionally serious crimes.
- Malaysia
- Malaysia ended mandatory death sentences for drug trafficking in 2023, allowing courts to choose between execution and life imprisonment.
- Malaysia sentencing data
- New death sentences cited by Amnesty International fell from 38 in 2023 to 24 in 2024 and 15 in 2025.
- Singapore survey
- A 2024 survey of 12,000 people across six regional cities found that 84.2% believed the death penalty deterred large-scale drug trafficking into Singapore.
- Singapore policy
- Singapore retains capital punishment for the most serious trafficking offenses involving quantities above legal thresholds, alongside enforcement, education and rehabilitation.