Countries with the strictest drug laws in 2026

Death penalty for trafficking >25g heroin or >5kg cannabis. Possession years in prison. Strict enforcement.

Sharia penal code (2014–19) prescribes death by stoning for trafficking; secular law also has death penalty. No tourist-tolerant zone.

Death penalty for trafficking (>50g heroin, >1kg opium); regularly applied. Possession 7–15yrs. Hair/urine testing at border crossings reported.

Death penalty actively applied (Bali Nine 2015, others since). Heavy prison terms even for personal-use amounts. Bali tourists arrested at airport with trace residue – zero tolerance.

Iran executes more people for drug offences than any country except China – hundreds of executions annually. Possession of any amount can mean death for repeat offenders. Avoid entirely.

Mandatory death penalty for drug trafficking abolished 2023 but death still discretionary; courts use it. Possession 5yrs+caning. Recent reforms haven’t softened enforcement at customs.

Death penalty on books for trafficking; junta context means due process limited. Major opium-producing region. Avoid entirely.

Death penalty for trafficking; possession up to 14yrs. Charas (hashish) culturally common but legally dangerous for foreigners. Fundamentalist regions extra-strict.

Sharia: death penalty for trafficking actively applied; lashings + decades in prison for possession. Many psychiatric meds controlled – check before travel.

Mandatory death penalty for trafficking >500g cannabis, >15g heroin, >250g methamphetamine. Recent executions confirm enforcement. Mandatory urine tests at borders. Foreign-prescribed Vyvanse, codeine, sleep meds need permit – contact HSA before travel.

Zero-tolerance: trace residue on luggage, clothing, even your own body has resulted in 4yr+ sentences. CBD products with any THC = arrest. Codeine, melatonin, many psychiatric meds CONTROLLED – require Ministry of Health pre-approval. Death penalty on books for trafficking.

Death penalty for trafficking >100g heroin or 600g cannabis. Possession alone 7–20yrs typical. Foreigners regularly executed for trafficking.

Death penalty on books; war context means due process minimal. Avoid.

Taliban regime: drug laws enforced harshly via sharia. Despite Afghanistan being a major opium source, foreign possession = serious risk. Avoid entirely.

Major cannabis production country (illegal); enforcement targets producers but tourists also caught. Possession 1–10yrs.

Possession 2–10yrs. Strict.

Possession 1–10yrs. Strict.

Possession 3–10yrs. Strict; foreigners targeted at clubs.

Possession 1–6yrs + deportation. Some psychiatric meds need prior approval.

Lukashenka regime extremely harsh on drugs – possession 5–12yrs. Avoid entirely; consular support limited.

Possession 5–10yrs. Strict.

Strict; "Tobacco-Free Bhutan" extends to other substances. Mandatory tour-package travel limits exposure but penalties severe if caught.

Coca leaf cultivation legal in some regions (cultural use). Cocaine trafficking severe. Cannabis still strict.

Possession 5–10yrs. Strict.

1–6yrs for possession (any amount counts as supply intent under Bulgarian law). Some of EU’s harshest enforcement.

Possession criminal; junta + jihadist context. Avoid.

Possession 1–20yrs depending on amount; trafficking life. Tourist enforcement varies by city; foreigners often deported for small possession but always face initial detention.

Possession 5yrs+. Strict.

Possession criminal. Strict.

Possession criminal. Strict.

Possession 1–8yrs. Strict.

Possession criminal; conflict zones lawless. Avoid.

Khat legal; other drugs strict (5–25yrs).

Possession 6 months–3yrs. Strict.

Hashish culturally widespread but strictly illegal – possession 1–25yrs. Death penalty for trafficking. Tourists arrested at Sharm el-Sheikh and Luxor airports for tiny amounts.

Bukele-era crackdown extends to drugs; mass-incarceration context. Possession 1–15yrs.

Closed authoritarian state. Strict.

Closed authoritarian state. Avoid.

Possession criminal. Strict.

Khat (chat) is legal and culturally embedded – don’t conflate. Other drugs harshly illegal; possession 5–20yrs.

Possession 3 months–5yrs. Strict; resort-island context but enforcement real.

Possession 5–10yrs. Beach hassle ("bumsters") sometimes test foreigners; refuse firmly.

Possession 5–10yrs. 2020 reform softened personal-use small amounts to fines but enforcement varies; assume strict for tourists.

Possession 4–12yrs. Strict; cartel context complicates.

Possession 2–10yrs. Coup context limits tourism but strict.

Possession criminal (5yrs+). Strict.

Possession criminal; gang collapse means due process limited. Avoid.

Possession 6–10yrs. Strict; cartel context.

NDPS Act: small-quantity possession 6 months–1yr; intermediate 10yrs; commercial 10–20yrs. Bhang (cannabis preparation) tolerated culturally in some states (Holi etc.) but ganja/charas/hashish strictly illegal.

Possession can mean life imprisonment. Active conflict context. Avoid.