Vietnam sentences 4 to death for drugs despite confusion over execution methods

HANOI, Vietnam – A Vietnamese court has sentenced four men to death for dealing in heroin, adding to those waiting capital punishment while the government decides on an execution method.

The country has not executed anyone since 2011, when it decided to switch from firing squads to lethal injections on humanitarian grounds.

But it has found itself unable to source the chemicals used in the injections because of an EU ban on its factories exporting chemicals used in lethal injections

The state-run Laborer newspaper said the four were convicted Wednesday in northern Vietnam for dealing in 50 kilograms of heroin.

Vietnam has some of the world's toughest drug laws. Trafficking or trading 600 grams (1.3 pounds) of heroin is punishable by death.

There are currently more than 500 people on death row.