Three drug traffickers have been sentenced to death after a preliminary trial in the Intermediate People's Court in Dalian, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province, said local authorities on Wednesday.

Taketa Teruo, 64, a Japanese citizen and head of the international smuggling ring, and Chinese citizens Zheng Xiaobin and Liu Zhiqiang were convicted of trafficking 7.13 kilograms of drugs.

Police seized 3.1 kilograms of crystallized methamphetamine (commonly known as "ice") when they arrested Teruo in June 2004 in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, the court heard.

It is unknown yet whether they will appeal to a higher court.

Source: Xinhua