Chinese tell British drug-smuggler Akmal Shaikh he will die tomorrow

The Chinese authorities this morning told a British man that he is to be executed tomorrow morning after being convicted of smuggling heroin into the country.

The notification coincided with a visit by two cousins to his death row cell, Akmal Shaikh’s first meeting with relatives since his arrest two years ago.

Mr Shaikh, who was arrested in the western Chinese city of Urumqi for possession of four kilogrammes (8.8 pounds) of heroin, is due to be executed at around 10.30am (0230 GMT) tomorrow.

If the execution goes ahead, Mr Shaikh would be the first European national to be put to death in China in 50 years, the British-based charity Reprieve has said.

Sally Rowen, the legal director of Reprieve’s death penalty team, said: “He has been told this morning that he is to be executed tomorrow morning. I do not know what his reaction was but I just know that he has been told. The Chinese authorities had always said they would tell him 24 hours ahead."