CHINA: TRIO WHO DEALT DRUGS GIVEN DEATH SENTENCES

February 22, 2012: Three drug dealers in a gang of five were given death penalties for selling and transporting more than 18 kilograms of methamphetamine and ketamine, the Shanghai No.1 Intermediate People's Court said.
The three suspects, Fan Qiutian, Jin Yunhua and Han Jianchou, were sentenced to death at the final hearing, while two other gang members, Huang Jie and Cheng Tianming, received a death sentence with reprieve and life imprisonment each.
The gang had a clear assignment to transport drugs from Guangdong to Shanghai and Han was responsible for selling drugs to local clients.
On May 10, 2010, Huang and Jin were delivering drugs to Shanghai and were held by police after they failed a routine road check for vehicles without entry permits to Shanghai. Police seized 5 kilograms of meth and 2 kilograms of ketamine in the car, the court heard.
After Huang and Jin were arrested, Han and Cheng continued the drug business and were captured on June 16, 2010, while carrying 900 grams of ice drugs on their way to Wenzhou, in Zhejiang Province. They then led police to the drug supplier Fan.
Prosecutors said the five drug dealers had sold and transported drugs exceeding 18 kilograms, a big amount that resulted in their severe sentences. Under Chinese law, suspects can get the death penalty if they transport at least 50 grams of heroin or methamphetamine or more than a kilogram of opium. (Sources: Shanghai Daily, 23/02/2012)