A Canadian man once described as one of the world's most powerful drug traffickers has been handed a significant prison sentence in Australia. Tse Chi Lop, 62, was sentenced to 16 years in an Australian prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to traffic commercial quantities of methamphetamine.
The Downfall of a Kingpin
The sentencing on December 4, 2025, marks the culmination of a massive, years-long international investigation. Tse Chi Lop, who once headed the notorious Sam Gor syndicate, pleaded guilty on November 7 in Melbourne County Court. The charges stemmed from his role in a conspiracy to traffic massive amounts of methamphetamine between 2012 and 2013.
He will be eligible for parole after serving 10 years of his sentence. The case was built by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) through Operation Volante, an investigation launched in 2012 specifically to target Tse's international syndicate and its drug network in Australia.
A Global Criminal Enterprise
At the peak of its power, the Sam Gor syndicate was considered the primary source of methamphetamine flooding into Australia. Tse's influence and scale drew law enforcement comparisons to infamous cartel leaders like Mexico's Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman.
AFP Commissioner Krissy Barrett stated the sentencing concludes one of the most high-profile investigations in the force's history. "This result showcases what the AFP does best — identifying and targeting criminal syndicates that cause significant harm to our communities," Barrett said. She emphasized that the 14-year investigation proves the "long arm of the AFP can reach criminals across the world."
From Toronto to a Global Syndicate
Tse Chi Lop's criminal journey has deep Canadian roots. He arrived in Canada from Guangzhou, China, in 1988 with his fiancée, settling in Toronto. There, he was associated with the Big Circle Boys gang.
His initial foray into large-scale drug trafficking involved smuggling heroin from Southeast Asia for Mafia associates to sell in New York State. This operation led to his arrest in the United States in 1998. He was subsequently convicted and served a nine-year prison sentence.
In a 2004 request for a transfer to a Canadian prison, Tse cited a desire to care for his aging parents and his two young children, one of whom had medical problems. He claimed his post-release plans were to open a restaurant, a stark contrast to the global drug empire he would later command.
The successful prosecution and lengthy sentence of Tse Chi Lop represent a major victory for international law enforcement cooperation and a significant blow to a transnational criminal network that once operated with global reach.
