An Australian court has handed down a 16-year prison sentence to Tse Chi Lop, the notorious crime boss dubbed ‘Asia’s El Chapo’ for leading a multibillion-dollar international drug trafficking syndicate.
The Sentence and the Extradition Deal
In a Melbourne courtroom on Thursday, 4 December 2025, the 62-year-old Canadian kingpin, wearing a blue shirt and thick black glasses, sat with his head bowed as Judge Peter Rozen delivered the sentence. Tse Chi Lop pleaded guilty to conspiring to traffic commercial quantities of methamphetamine into Australia between 2012 and 2013. He will be eligible for parole after serving 10 years.
The 16-year term is significantly lighter than the life imprisonment typically imposed for such serious offences. Judge Rozen explained this was due to an “unusual” agreement between former attorney general Michaelia Cash and Dutch authorities. As part of the extradition deal from the Netherlands, Canberra promised Tse would not face the maximum Australian penalty.
A Global Criminal Empire Unravelled
Tse Chi Lop was the mastermind behind the sprawling Sam Gor syndicate, also known as The Company, which allegedly dominated the methamphetamine trade across the Asia-Pacific region. His arrest culminated a major international investigation.
The syndicate was estimated to generate over £13 billion annually, funnelling drugs into at least a dozen countries from Japan to New Zealand. At its peak, it was the biggest trafficker of methamphetamine into Australia. Tse, who was born in China, was reportedly protected by Thai kickboxers and was known for extravagant spending, including blowing nearly £5.2 million in a single Macau gambling session.
Long Arm of the Law Reaches Across the World
Tse’s downfall began when he was arrested at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport on 22 January 2021 while transiting from Taiwan to Canada, following an Interpol notice from Australia. After a lengthy legal process, he was extradited to Australia on 22 December 2022.
The case, much of which was heard behind closed doors, concluded after three years of deliberation. Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett stated, “This investigation highlights that the long arm of the Australian Federal Police can reach criminals across the world.”
The sentencing marks a critical conclusion to a case that exposed the vast reach of one of the world's most powerful drug networks, demonstrating the complexities of international legal cooperation in tackling transnational organised crime.
