Tse Chi Lop, aged 62, was handed a 16-year prison sentence by the Melbourne County Court today, with eligibility for parole after 10 years, for his involvement in a drug trafficking conspiracy in Australia.

Given his time already served, Tse, often referred to as “Asia’s El Chapo,” might be eligible for release in just over five years.

The former drug lord admitted guilt on November 7 to a charge of conspiracy to traffic large quantities of border-controlled drugs, following an investigation by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) targeting the Sam Gor syndicate and its operations in Australia.

Tse’s conspiracy involved the attempted trafficking of 20 kilograms of methamphetamine, valued at $4.4 million, between the cities of Sydney and Melbourne over a year from March 2012 to March 2013.

Initially detained by Dutch authorities at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport on January 22, 2021, at the request of the AFP, Tse faced a lengthy extradition battle before being brought to Melbourne.

Authorities contend that the Sam Gor syndicate was once the leading supplier of methamphetamine to Australia at the height of its operations.

AFP Commissioner Krissy Barrett described today’s sentencing as “the end of one of the most high-profile investigations in the AFP’s history”.

About a decade of work had gone into Tse’s arrest.

“This result showcases what the AFP does best – identifying and targeting criminal syndicates that cause significant harm to our communities,” Barrett said.

“Operation Volante is a culmination of 14 years of hard work and perseverance from our investigators and international network.

“This investigation highlights that the long arm of the AFP can reach criminals across the world.”