Poor drug sellers 'deserve leniency'

The Supreme People's Court (SPC) said yesterday that people driven by poverty to join drug traffickers' gangs but not playing important roles may not be given the death sentence.

"Some of the people involved in drug trafficking are from the lowest income group or are unemployed they are paid small amounts (of money) to peddle or carry drugs," says an SPC guideline, issued to lower courts.

Unlike drug dealers and gang leaders they have very little power and are not considered as "harmful" to society.