Pubdate: Sun, 04 Mar 2001
Source: Chicago Tribune (IL)
Copyright: 2001 Chicago Tribune Company
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7 SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING

Hanoi, Vietnam -- A Vietnamese court has sentenced to death seven 
defendants after a trial of 23 people accused of drug trafficking and 
circulating counterfeit U.S. dollars, the official news media 
reported Saturday.

The Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper said the court also handed out nine 
life sentences and jail terms of between 10 and 20 years to another 
seven defendants, including two women.

The 23 people were found guilty of trafficking more than 91 packages 
of heroin, each weighing 75 pounds; 4.4 pounds of opium and 
counterfeit dollars with a face value of $92,200.

Trafficking 3.3 ounces of heroin is punishable by death or life imprisonment.

Execution in Vietnam is by firing squad.

The trial had started Monday in the central province of Ha Tinh, 
about 250 miles south of Hanoi.
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