CHINA. DEATH PENALTY FOR LARGEST HEROIN CASE SINCE 1949

Guangdong High People's Court, China, recently ruled on a smuggling case involving approximately 380 kilograms of heroin, according to the Guangzhou Huangpu Customs Office. The case was said to be the largest heroin smuggling case solved by customs in China since 1949. In the final judgment, the court sentenced three men to death. Another two were sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve and one given life imprisonment. The remaining 10 received prison sentences ranging from two to 15 years. They were sentenced for crimes such as smuggling, selling, and producing drugs. Other crimes included illegally possessing drugs, firearms and ammunition. The court also confiscated and ordered the disposal of 375.2 kilograms of heroin and 1,948.4 kilograms of methylephedrine, the raw material for the drug known as ice.