Many Chinese families are allowed only one child

Two other members of the group were given life imprisonment for their part in the trafficking of babies in the impoverished central province of Henan.

There was no word on the fate of the girls, sold between 1998 and 2003.

The Chinese authorities believe thousands of women and children are trafficked every year and they are trying to curb the problem.

They say many are forced into marriage or sexual slavery, or are used as servants.

Profits

The court in Puyang city found all 15 members of the gang guilty, reported Xinhua state news agency.

All were accused of profiting from the trade.

Leader Li Guoju - whom the court said had been personally involved in the abduction and sale of 76 baby girls - was given the death penalty.

Two other members, named as Yu Xiumin and Zhang Xinfa, were sentenced to life in prison and fined 20,000 yuan ($2,400) each.

The court said Yu had been involved in the abduction and sale of 34 girls and Zhang of 28 girls.

The remaining 12 gang members received jail terms of between one and 15 years, Xinhua reported.

Li and most of the other gang members plan to appeal, it said.

Booming trade

Little is known about the scale of the trafficking of women and girls in China, but it appears to be thriving.

In March, police announced 42,215 women and children had been located and freed from their captors during the previous three years, AFP news agency reported.

However, there is no indication of the total number of people reported missing overall.

The problem is exacerbated by China's strict birth control policies, which limit many couples to only one child.

A social preference for boys has meant a shortage of brides for sons. Families may also buy trafficked women and children to use as servants.