A prolific drug dealer's been jailed for life -- after pulling the strings of a syndicate bringing meth and other drugs into New Zealand

Crown prosecutor Fiona Culliney says lives were ruined and families destroyed at the hands of 34-year-old Xavier Valent.

New Zealand Herald reporter George Block says his legal team argued for a finite sentence -- but Justice Sally Fitzgerald wasn't convinced.

Block says there was no visible reaction from Valent in court.

He says there's not been any word yet from his lawyers on whether he'll appeal, but he likely would as there's nothing to lose on a sentence like this.