TAIPEI (AFP) - Taiwan police said on Sunday they had cracked a major drug ring, confiscating 229 kilograms of heroin in their biggest seizure of the drug for 20 years.

The 600 heroin bricks were discovered in 12 amplifier boxes in a container airlifted from Vietnam, the Criminal Investigation Bureau said.

Police said they had arrested eight people and were pursuing other suspects.

Bureau commissioner Lin Te-hua put the "wholesale" value of the haul at around NT$900 million (S$38 million), but said its street value in Taiwan could be 10 times more.

Authorities in October seized 220 pounds (100 kg) of heroin smuggled in a cargo container in the southern city of Kaohsiung.

Last year they seized 176 pounds (80 kg) of heroin in a fishing boat, and arrested seven people involved in smuggling it from Cambodia.

Under Taiwan's anti-drug laws, manufacturing, transporting and dealing in heroin is punishable by death.