Former college basketball star Jarred Shaw arrested for drug smuggling in Indonesia, could face death penalty

Indonesian authorities arrested an American former college basketball player for allegedly attempting to smuggle THC candies into the country. The player, 34-year old Jarred Shaw, was charged with drug smuggling.

Shaw, a former Utah State standout, could face life imprisonment or the death penalty if convicted of the crime.

Here's what you need to know.

Jarred Shaw charged with drug smuggling in Indonesia

Shaw was apprehended on May 7 after police raided his apartment in Tangerang regency, just outside the country's capital city Jakarta. Police seized 132 pieces of THC candies from his property, said Ronald Sipayung, the police chief at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport.

Shaw's arrest came after police received a tip from the airport's customs claiming Shaw was in possession of a "suspicious" package from Thailand, Sipayung said. Marijuana has been decriminalized in Thailand since November 2024.

A video circulating on social media appears to show Shaw, wearing a black T-shirt and shorts, crying for help as police attempted to push him away.

Shaw was officially charged with drug smuggling. He was banned from the Indonesian Basketball League and could face life imprisonment or the death penalty if convicted. Indonesia's anti-drug laws are among the strictest in the world. According to AP, the country has about 530 people on death row, most of whom were convicted of drug offenses. The Southeast Asia nation last carried out an execution in 2016, killing one Indonesian and three Nigerians convicted of drug crimes.

Who is Jarred Shaw?

Shaw, 34, is a Dallas native who came to prominence as a member of Oklahoma State and Utah State in the early 2010s. The 6-foot-11 center garnered All-WAC honors during his junior season with the Aggies in 2012-13 after averaging 14.2 points and 8.3 rebounds. Shaw was never able to land a spot in the NBA. But he spent a season with G-League side Santa Cruz before embarking on a lengthy international career.

Since 2016, Shaw has played in Argentina, Tunisia, Thailand, Japan, Uruguay, Venezuela, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon and, most recently, Indonesia. He captured an IBL title in 2023 and landed his first All-Star nod in 2024. Shaw was in the second season of his deal with the Tangerang Hawks when he was banned.

“We don’t tolerate players, administrators or anyone in the field involved in drugs," IBL chair Budistario Djiwandono said. "There is no room for drug users in the basketball world.”

Where did Jarred Shaw go to college?

Shaw split his collegiate career across two programs, spending his first two seasons with Oklahoma State and his final two years at Utah State. Shaw, the No. 27-ranked center in his high school class, played sparingly throughout his Oklahoma State tenure.

He found his footing in Logan, starting 56 games and posting averages of 14.2 points, 8.3 rebound and 1.1 blocks.