Convicted drug importer Omar Yacob Bamadhaj was executed by hanging on April 16, 2026, after being found guilty of bringing 1,009.1g of cannabis into Singapore in 2018.
Authorities confirmed that Omar was convicted of a capital offence on February 24, 2021, with his sentence later upheld by the Court of Appeal on October 12, 2021. His execution was carried out under Singapore’s strict drug laws, which impose the death penalty for trafficking or importing more than 500g of cannabis.
Under the Misuse of Drugs Act, such quantities are considered sufficient to supply dozens of users, with officials estimating the seized cannabis could have fed the addiction of around 144 abusers for a week.
Omar had previously claimed he was unaware of the contents of the bundles found in his vehicle during a check at the Woodlands Checkpoint in July 2018. He also alleged that officers had threatened him during the investigation, including claims of intimidation to force a confession.
However, the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) maintained that multiple officers provided consistent testimonies supported by CCTV footage. The High Court ultimately ruled that Omar was aware of the contents and had deliberately brought the drugs into Singapore.
His appeal against conviction and sentence was dismissed by the Court of Appeal, which found no reason to overturn the earlier ruling. Subsequent post-appeal applications and a request for clemency to the President were also rejected.
Singapore enforces some of the world’s strictest drug laws, with capital punishment reserved for the most serious drug trafficking offences. Authorities have repeatedly defended the policy as a key deterrent against large-scale drug crimes.
