Despite opposition from the United Nations and human rights groups, Singapore authorities executed Tangaraju Suppiah on April 26 for drug trafficking. Suppiah, a Singaporean national, was sentenced to death in 2018 for smuggling one kilogram of marijuana, a violation of Singapore’s strict drug laws.
Suppiah did not have any drugs on his person when he was arrested. However, prosecutors argued that his name was used to control drug trafficking operations. Suppiah maintained his innocence, and his family and human rights groups argued that the evidence against him was not clear.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, made a clemency request to Singapore’s President Halimah Yacob, but it was rejected. Despite global criticism, Singapore’s government defended its decision, stating that Suppiah’s guilt was beyond doubt and that their approach to drug enforcement had been effective.
In the past year, a total of 11 people have been executed in Singapore for drug-related offenses. Despite opposition from the international community, Singapore has continued to execute drug smugglers, maintaining that their stringent laws are necessary to deter drug trafficking and protect the country’s citizens.