A south China court sentenced a Hong Kong drug lord...

A south China court sentenced a Hong Kong drug lord and his four associates to death following what is said to be the world's largest haul of "ice," local reports said.
Chong Cho-shing, 40, the leader of a narcotics ring, and four other men, were convicted of making and selling more than 31 tonnes of methamphetamine hydrochloride, popularly known as "ice."
It was the highest number of death sentences in a single case, the South China Morning Post said.
The report quoted judge Shi Zhenwen as saying Chong and his gang tried to smuggle the drugs to overseas markets in fishing boats. They would usually smuggle the ice to the Philippines and then on to Europe and North America.
Another six mainland Chinese men associated with Chong were also convicted. Three were given the death penalty, two given a suspended death sentence and one jailed for life. They have 10 days to appeal.
Despite regular use of the death penalty, statistics show drug crime is increasing in the world's most populous country.