Many countries have stiff penalties for drug violations and strictly enforce drug laws. If you are caught buying, selling, carrying or using any type of drug – from hashish to heroin, marijuana to mescaline, cocaine to quaaludes – you will be arrested. You are subject to foreign laws overseas, not U.S. laws, and, if arrested, you will find that:
Few countries provide a jury trial.
Trials are often long, with delays and postponements.
Most countries do not accept bail.
Pre-trial detention, often in solitary confinement, may last for months.
If you are convicted, you face a possible sentence of:
2 – 10 years in many countries
A minimum of 6 years hard labor and a stiff fine in some countries
The death penalty in a number of countries (e.g. Malaysia, Pakistan, Turkey, Thailand, Saudi Arabia)
During recent years, there has been an increase in the number of women arrested abroad. These are usually women who serve as drug couriers or “mules” and who believe that they can make fast money and have a vacation at the same time, without getting caught. Instead of a vacation, they receive a...