HANOI A Vietnamese court has sentenced three convicted opium traffickers to death, official media reported Saturday. Tran Van Thanh, Chu Van Khach and Tran Van Kim were found guilty Friday by the Supreme People's Court of Ninh Binh Province and are to face a firing squad for buying and selling 108 kilograms of the drug, according to Tuoi Tre (youth) newspaper.
Three defendants were sentenced to life in prison, while nine others received terms of 9 months to 20 years, the paper said.
Seven others thought to be involved in the drug ring escaped a police dragnet earlier this year, it added.
(DPA)