HAIKOU - Three men were sentenced to death for illegal drug trafficking, a court in South China's Hainan province announced Tuesday evening.

The province's First Intermediate People's Court ruled that Lin Mingjin and Yang Zuxing were guilty of transporting and selling more than 40 kg of ketamine in 2012.

Police said Lin and Yang bought the drug from Xiao Haifeng several times between April and May last year.

The court sentenced Lin, Yang and Xiao to death. Another defendant, Li Shun, who was also involved in the case, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for selling ketamine.

After the ruling, Lin, Yang and Xiao appealed to the Hainan Provincial Higher People's Court.