GUANGZHOU - A court in South China's Guangdong province has sentenced a leader of a drug selling gang to death, authorities said Saturday.

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The Guangzhou Intermediate People's Court sentenced gang leader Wu Zhijian on Friday for organizing and leading a criminal gang, murder, producing, selling and transporting drugs, illegally buying, selling, and transporting firearms, ammunition and explosives, kidnapping, and unlawful detention of others, officials with the court said.

The court also sentenced three others to death with two-year reprieves, four to life sentences, and 11 other members to jail terms of under 20 years.

According to the court, Wu Zhijian started manufacturing and selling drugs with other members in 2007. Over the next year he purchased firearms and ammunition and distributed them to his gang members to take over the area's control of the drug business.

Chinese law prohibits the private ownership of guns.

After the verdict, Wu and the 18 others said they would file an appeal against the court ruling.