Saudi Arabia beheads two convicted drug smugglers 
October 29, 2006
International Herald Tribune
Original Source: http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/10/29/africa/ME_GEN_Saudi_Beheadings.php

Saudi Arabia on Sunday beheaded two foreign nationals on charges they smuggled heroin and cocaine into the country, the Interior Ministry said. 
 
Adam bin Mohammed Ali Hussein, of Nigeria, was convicted of swallowing lumps of cocaine in plastic bags and smuggling them into Saudi Arabia, the Interior Ministry said in a statement. 
 
Mahmoud Haji Shadi, an Afghan, was convicted of smuggling heroin. 
 
Saudi Arabia follows a strict interpretation of Islam under which people convicted of murder, drug trafficking, rape and armed robbery can be executed. 
 
Their execution in the capital brought to 18 the number of people beheaded in the kingdom this year. Saudi executions are performed with a sword and in public as a deterrent. 
 
The kingdom beheaded 83 people in 2005 and 35 people in 2004.