‘Bigger than Ben-Hur’: AFP nabs alleged drug boss of bosses

Tse Chi Lop, who was extradited from the Netherlands on Thursday, is accused of trafficking 20kg of methamphetamine worth $4.4 million into Australia in 2012 and 2013.

Tse Chi Lop, ‘the most wanted man in Asia’, was extradited to Australia on Thursday morning.

A tracksuit-wearing billionaire Canadian alleged to be the head of one of the world’s largest drug-smuggling syndicates has appeared in court in Melbourne after being extradited from Europe.

Tse Chi Lop, 59, the so-called “Asian El Chapo’’, was charged with conspiracy to traffic 20kg of methamphetamine, worth about $4.4m, into Australia between March 2012 and March 2013.

His appearance in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court came hours after he stepped off a flight following his extradition from the Netherlands early on Thursday morning, ending a year-long legal battle and a 10-year manhunt by the Australian Federal Police.

The Chinese-born Mr Tse is ­alleged to be the head of a global drug-smuggling operation which police have previously alleged is responsible for 70 per cent of Australia’s illicit drug trade.

“The AFP has arrested an ­alleged head of a global drug-­trafficking syndicate after he was extradited from the Netherlands early this morning,” AFP assistant commissioner Krissy Barrett said prior to Mr Tse’s appearance.

“His extradition today is the culmination of a long-term AFP investigation into a transnational organised crime syndicate called The Company, also known as the Sam Gor syndicate.’’

The Company is known as a major international crime syndicate, based in the Asia-Pacific, comprising members of five different triads including 14K, Bamboo Union, Big Circle Boys, Sun Yee On, and Wo Shing Wo.

Lop was charged with conspiracy to traffic 20kg of methamphetamine, worth about $4.4m, into Australia between March 2012 and March 2013.

Ms Barrett said Mr Tse’s extradition could be one of the most ­significant arrests in the history of the AFP, “not just for the AFP but for the Australian community”.

Mr Tse was en route to Canada after being deported from Taiwan when he was arrested by Dutch police acting on an Interpol red notice on January 22 this year as his flight transited through Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport.

He denied being a member of the syndicate and launched a legal bid to avoid extradition, claiming the Australian Federal Police had set him up and arranged to have his flight stopped in Amsterdam to facilitate his arrest.

After the Dutch courts agreed to his extradition, he was flown into Melbourne under heavy security, arriving early on Thursday and being taken to the Melbourne Custody Centre.

Mr Tse appeared first by video-link, assisted by a Cantonese interpreter, before making an appearance in person before magistrate Martin Grinberg.

The silver-haired Mr Tse, ­wearing black-rimmed glasses, was led into the dock after a security guard first checked the door to the courtroom could not be opened. He was wearing grey tracksuit pants, as he had when he stepped off the plane in Melbourne, but had replaced his hoodie with a black, collared shirt.

Two protective services officers also entered Courtroom 1 before Mr Tse came in, with one remarking “this is bigger than Ben-Hur”.

Mr Tse was handcuffed as he was escorted in by two security guards. He made no application for bail and his lawyer requested his next appearance be alongside his co-accused, Chinese-British dual citizen Lee Chung Chak.

Mr Lee, 66, was extradited to Australia from Thailand in June.

Prosecutor Grace Krutsch and Mr Tse’s barrister Paul Smallwood agreed February 16 would be the next court date, when Mr Tse’s matter will be heard alongside that of Mr Lee.

Mr Smallwood requested that Mr Tse see a nurse.

“It might it be noted that Mr Tse see a nurse as soon as (practical). He does take medication for high blood pressure,” he said.

“There will be no application for bail. There is a co-accused who has previously been charged. Dates (are) sought to align with the co-accused proceeding.”

Mr Smallwood said he expected there to be a “wealth of information” from the defence in relation to the proceeding.

Asia's El Chapo - Tse Chi Lop - has been extradited to Australia to face drug trafficking charges.

Appearing on behalf of the AFP, James Forsaith requested parts of future proceedings in the matter be suppressed. Mr Grinberg granted the order.

Mr Tse’s charge sheet alleges he conspired to traffic in a commercial quantity of controlled drugs between March 15, 2012, and March 20, 2013 with Mr Lee and two other people listed as Suky Lieu – known to be a millionaire Vietnamese greengrocer from Melbourne – and Thi Kim Loan Nguyen.

Mr Tse was born in China but moved to Canada in the 1980s, ­before returning to Asia in 2006.

Fabulously wealthy, he was reported to fly around in private jets, be guarded by up to eight Thai kickboxers, and once lost $95m in a single night at a Macau casino.

Police allege his wealth was generated through his leadership of The Company, which was ­alleged to import huge amounts of methamphetamine, heroin and ketamine into Australia, often concealed in packs of tea.

The Company is alleged to have links to Australian outlaw motorcycle gangs, including the nation’s largest gang, the Comanchero, and to have laundered ­millions through Crown’s casinos in Melbourne and Perth.