A Vietnamese court Friday gave death penalties to eight local people involving a transnational drug trafficking ring, Vietnam News Agency reported.

The People's Court of southern Ho Chi Minh City also passed life sentences to nine people, and imprisonment sentences ranging from 5-20 years to 15 others. Before being arrested in mid-2004, the sentenced people had bought 78 kg of heroin from Laos and Cambodia, and then resold them in the city.

Last year, Vietnamese authorities reported 12,068 drug-related crimes, seized 239.4 kg of heroin, and arrested 18,260 people involved.

Under Vietnam's laws, anyone possessing, trading or trafficking heroin of 600 grams or above can be sentenced to death or life in prison.

Source: Xinhua