CHINA. SIX MEMBERS OF DRUG RING SENTENCED TO DEATH IN GUIZHOU PROVINCE

four cardinal members of a notorious drug ring that was accused of trafficking 21 kilograms of heroin have been sentenced to death at first trial in southwest China's Guizhou Province.
The four, including Liu Xianyin, Cai Junhu, Peng Yougui and Yang Nengxue, were given death penalty, while two others of their 11-member drug ring Liu Yangpeng and Hong Xingbo got suspended death sentence with two-year reprieve, according to a ruling by the Intermediate People's Court in Bijie Prefecture of Guizhou.
Court investigations show the six bought a truck in January 2005 to ship heroin from the China-Myanmar border to the interior regions.
They were caught red-handed with 21.8 kilograms of heroin after they returned from a drug trafficking trip from the border areas in April 2005. Police later found at Liu Xianyin's apartment bank cards and deposit books with a total value of 1.8 million yuan (225,000 U.S. dollars).
The other five members of the ring were also sentenced: two to life and three to 15 years in jail, according to the court's decision.
The court also ordered confiscation of all their personal property.