Vietnamese authorities say they have arrested a suspected drug ring mastermind who spent almost two years on the run.

Police believe Bui Van Bien is the mastermind behind a drug ring that trafficked 490 bricks of heroin, hidden in gas cylinders, in 2015.

The operation was busted that same year by a drug crime investigation unit under the Vietnam’s Public Security Ministry known as C47.

After a series of arrests and interrogations, the 30-year-old was identified as the organiser of the shipment.

On Sunday, he was finally arrested while working as a security guard for a building in Hanoi’s Nam Tu Liem District.

Last month, the Hanoi People’s Court upheld the death sentence handed to eight members of the drug ring.

Bien, as well as the others, will also be tried in another case.