7 SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING

Hanoi, Vietnam -- A Vietnamese court has sentenced to death seven
defendants after a trial of 23 people accused of drug trafficking and
circulating counterfeit U.S. dollars, the official news media
reported Saturday.

The Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper said the court also handed out nine
life sentences and jail terms of between 10 and 20 years to another
seven defendants, including two women.

The 23 people were found guilty of trafficking more than 91 packages
of heroin, each weighing 75 pounds; 4.4 pounds of opium and
counterfeit dollars with a face value of $92,200.

Trafficking 3.3 ounces of heroin is punishable by death or life imprisonment.

Execution in Vietnam is by firing squad.

The trial had started Monday in the central province of Ha Tinh,
about 250 miles south of Hanoi.