CHINA: 7 SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING

the Intermediate People's Court in Changzhou in east China's Jiangsu Province sentenced Wei Rong Xiu and Chen Gang to death, and sentenced five others to death with a two-year reprieve for drug trafficking. Wei and Chen both allegedly sold more than 2 kg of methamphetamine hydrochloride, or "ice," between August 2008 and December 2009. Five others, who sold varying amounts of ice, were given lenient penalties for pleading guilty. All had their property confiscated and face a lifelong deprivation of their political rights.