VIETNAM. THREE SENTENCED TO DEATH IN VIETNAM FOR HEROIN SMUGGLING

three members of a drug smuggling ring were sentenced to death in Vietnam for smuggling heroin and opium into Vietnam from Laos, said Nguyen Van Huy, an officer from the Nghe An provincial people's court. Ringleader Ha Sy Que, Lo Van Han and Lo Van Tuyen were all due to face the firing squad, Huy said. Six other members of the gang received life imprisonment, while nine more were sentenced to jail terms ranging from 13 to 20 years each at the end of a three-day trial, Huy said.  The gang was convicted of smuggling 17.82 kilograms (39.29 pounds) of heroin and 34.65 kilograms (76.39 pounds) of opium from Laos into northern Nghe An province since 2002, and distributing the drugs across the country. The convicted men had 15 days to appeal.