In a surprising twist of events, WNBA star Brittney Griner‘s name has begun trending again, but not for her dominance on the court. Instead, another American basketball player has found himself in a disturbingly similar predicament overseas.
Jarred Dwayne Shaw, a former U.S. college standout turned international pro, is currently facing the death penalty in Indonesia for allegedly importing cannabis gummies.
The echoes of Griner‘s infamous detention in Russia are impossible to ignore, and social media has reignited the debate about Americans and drug laws abroad.
Shaw, who once played for Oklahoma State and Utah State, had been competing in the Indonesian Basketball League (IBL) for the Tangerang Hawks.
His career came to an abrupt halt in May 2025 when Indonesian customs officers reportedly intercepted a parcel sent from Thailand that contained 132 packages of THC-infused gummies, weighing nearly 870 grams in total.
Authorities quickly charged Shaw with importing a Class I narcotic, one of the country’s most serious offenses, punishable by life imprisonment or even execution by firing squad.
The 33-year-old athlete insists the gummies were intended for personal medical use, claiming they were part of his treatment for chronic pain.
“I didn’t think I was doing anything wrong,” Shaw reportedly told investigators. “I had no idea about the laws here. I just want to go home.”
Unfortunately for him, ignorance of Indonesian drug law, which is among the strictest in the world, is no defense. Following his arrest, the IBL terminated his contract and banned him from professional play indefinitely.
Griner’s shadow looms over Shaw’s case
Shaw‘s ordeal has instantly drawn comparisons to Brittney Griner‘s 2022 detention in Russia, where she was accused of carrying vape cartridges containing hash oil.
Griner, one of the WNBA’s most decorated players, was sentenced to nine years in prison before being transferred to a Russian penal colony.
Her story became an international flashpoint and culminated in a December 2022 prisoner swap between the United States and Russia, Griner for convicted arms dealer Viktor Bout.
On social media, users are now drawing parallels between the two cases.
“The United States literally traded a global arms dealer for Brittney Griner,” one commenter wrote. “Send Indonesia some money and get Jarred Shaw back.”
Others were less sympathetic, warning that athletes must respect foreign laws regardless of personal circumstance.
“We just watched Brittney Griner get jailed for a cartridge,” another post read. “Wouldn’t you check the law before bringing cannabis into another country?”
While Griner‘s story ended with a diplomatic rescue, Shaw‘s situation may prove far more dire. Indonesia rarely grants leniency in drug-related cases, and its courts have historically upheld harsh penalties for foreigners.
For now, the former college star remains in custody as U.S. officials monitor the case closely.
The comparison to Griner‘s saga underscores a sobering reality: fame offers no shield against the laws of another nation.
What began as a moment of déjà vu for sports fans has quickly evolved into a chilling reminder of how international boundaries, and the substances one carries across them, can alter a life forever.
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