Judge Pham Van Nam said six, including two women, were convicted of trafficking 110 kilograms (242 pounds) of heroin, from mid- 2012 until the gang was busted in May last year, at the end of a three-day trial Thursday in Dien Bien province.

Nam said Friday that two gang members were given life sentences while two others received jail sentences of 17 and 20 years on the same charges.

The judge said the case was biggest one ever tried in the province, which borders Laos.

Vietnam has some of the world toughest drug laws where trafficking 100 grams (3.5 ounces) of heroin is punishable by death.