Ben, together with four accomplices, was discovered by city police to have trafficked more than 1,000 grams of heroin from India to Vietnam and then on to China.

In addition, Ben was fined VND50 million (US$2,500).

Accomplice Luong Kim Dung from HCM City was also jailed for life.

Meanwhile, Tesita Guiyab was sentenced to 19 years, Nguyen Thi Hanh from HCM City to 20 years and Nguyen Mai Trinh to 15 years.