Death Verdict For 12 Vietnamese Heroin Smugglers

November 30, 2007 7:39 p.m. EST

Hanoi, Vietnam (AHN) - In two successive days, 27 people were sentenced to death in Vietnam for smuggling a total of 470 kilograms of heroin, bringing to 94 the number of death sentences handed down by courts this year, including 64 for drug crimes.

On Friday, the People's Court of Vietnam's northwestern province of Quang Ninh sentenced 12 people to death and eight others to life imprisonment for smuggling 70 kg of heroin into China.

The court sentenced eight more members of the ring to between 15 and 30 years, and one to 1.5 years. Fifteen more members of the ring remained at large, DPA news agency said.

On Thursday, a court in Hanoi sentenced 11 people to death for smuggling over 400 kilos of heroin while a court in the central province of Nghe An sentenced four others to death, all for heroin trafficking.

Possession, trade or trafficking of more than 600 grams (1.3 pounds) of heroin or 20 kilograms (44 pounds) of opium is punishable by life in prison or death.

About 100 Vietnamese are put to death by firing squad each year for drug-related offenses, The Associated Press reported.