Tse Chi Lop A.K.A. Asian “El Chapo”

For over a decade, the AFP has tentatively tracked Tse Chi Lop for his suspected involvement with the Sam Gor syndicate. Nicknamed “Operation Kungur,” the AFP and about 20 other foreign agencies led the international investigation. The multinational pursuit followed the drug conglomerate’s money trails. They eventually arrested 27 suspects and cut off a few global distribution networks. Based on the sheer size and billions generated by “the company,” people have dubbed Tse Chi Lop as the Asian “El Chapo.” Experts even believe the ex-convict to be among the leagues of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzman and Pablo Escobar. Tse’s organization is, perhaps, the largest illicit narcotics trading ring in Asian history. But what is most concerning is the short amount of time it took him to build his empire.

The Rise of Sam Gor Syndicate

From 2015 to 2019, the syndicate rapidly expanded. It quadrupled the rate of crystal-methamphetamine trafficking in Asia. Tse’s Asia-Pacific drug trade supplied methamphetamine and other synthetic drugs globally. They also produced heroin, MDMA, and meth. The illicit operation became successful almost overnight. By partnering up with smaller groups of criminals, the conglomerate gained territory quickly. They traveled from nation to nation, creating deals with local gangs.

Before 2019, the accused drug kingpin, Tse Chi Lop, lived in the shadows. Police sources claim the wealthy man even traveled with a guard of Thai kickboxers. It wasn’t until Reuters published an investigative article that everything came to light. The piece revealed Tse’s identity. Only then were authorities able to close in on him. According to the report, Tse ran his operation from Hong Kong, Macao, and Southeast Asia. It also connected Tse’s syndicate to 13 drug trafficking cases.

Reuter’s Grand Reveal

Shortly after Reuter’s grand reveal, AFP issued a warrant for Tse Chi Lop’s arrest in 2019. Yet, after learning about the multinational investigation into him, he hid in Taiwan. Finally, last Friday, authorities caught the supposed “Asian El Chapo” in the Netherlands. The Dutch now detains Tse, and the Australian government has requested his extradition. Tse Chi Lop’s arrest is a win against the global war on drugs. But the was is not over. The demand for synthetic drugs remains strong. If efficient change is not made soon, it is only a matter of time before someone new steps up and replaces Tse.

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An investigation beginning in April 2020 resulted in the discovery of shipping containers turned into apparent torture chambers. Police in the Netherlands found 6 shipping containers that were converted into prison cells, lined with sound-proofing material and devices that could be used for torture. A statement from the National Prosecutor’s Office said, “In each of the cells, handcuffs were attached to the ceiling and floor, in order to be able to chain someone standing up with their arms raised. The rooms were finished with noise isolating panels and heat-insulating foil.” Some of the objects found during the raid included, “pruning shears, loppers, a branch saw, scalpels, pliers, extra handcuffs, fingercuffs, tape, balaclavas, and black cotton bags that can be pulled over the head.”

The unearthing of these containers was due to officers accessing an encrypted chat network, called EncroChat. EncroChat was a secure mobile phone instant messaging service that was used by 60,000 people around the world as a criminal marketplace. The UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) stated that EncroChat was used to coordinate the distribution of illicit goods, money laundering, and to communicate on plans to assassinate rivals. Access to this chat network let officers track the group’s movements and helped them identify intended victims, who were warned and able to go into hiding.

On June 22, police raided the site with the shipping containers at Wouwse Plantage on the Dutch-Belgian border. In one of the containers, a dental chair was found with straps for the arms and feet. The statement from the National Prosecutor’s Office said, “The sea container with the dental chair contained bags with objects that were presumably intended to torture or at least put pressure on victims.” The containers also had cameras for remote monitoring. Six men, all from the Netherlands, were arrested on suspicion of kidnapping and hostage taking. Two BMWs, 3 stolen delivery vans, 7 handguns, and a Chinese variant of the AK-47 were found. During a search of a home in the Dutch city of Rotterdam, 24 kilos (over 52 pounds) of MDMA was also found.

MDMA In The Netherlands

The 24 kilos of methylenedioxy-methylamphetamine (MDMA), also commonly called ecstasy, that were found in Rotterdam is a minuscule fraction of the synthetic drug that comes out of the Netherlands. The Netherlands is one of the world’s largest producers of ecstasy and amphetamines. The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) reports that, “criminal groups from the Netherlands and Belgium are the main producers and traffickers in the field of synthetic drugs in Europe.” The production of MDMA is concentrated in Belgium and the Netherlands, and has become an increasing issue over the years. The Netherlands is not only a major illicit drug producer, it can be considered the main European logistical hub for cross-border drug trafficking. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) stated that seized drugs were mainly produced in clandestine laboratories in the Netherlands and Belgium.

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MDMA is a stimulant and hallucinogen that produces euphoric effects and is often consumed in the nightlife scene. Although overdoes from MDMA are uncommon, there are a number of health risks associated with this drug. Regular use of MDMA can lead to depression, impulsivity, lack of appetite, concentration difficulties, sleep disturbances, and heart disease. Decreased cognitive function has occurred after a 2-year period of heavy use. When someone takes MDMA, it releases large amounts of serotonin in the brain, making them feel good. However, when the drug wears off, the brain will be depleted of serotonin and users may experience negative psychological effects days after using the drug. Addiction and abuse of drugs like MDMA fuel the dangerous illicit drug trade. Situations similar to the shipping containers in the Netherlands are often linked back to criminal groups that have stake in drug distribution.

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A quiet suburban neighborhood in Amsterdam witnessed a bloody shooting this past September that is bringing attention to the growth of drug-related violence in the Netherlands. Derk Wiersum was murdered outside his home during broad daylight in an act meant to frighten and intimidate civilians and local law enforcement. Coincidentally, just a month prior to the attack, Dutch Minister of Justice and Security, Ferdinand Grapperhaus, publicly stated that “The Netherlands is at risk of becoming a narco state.”

A narco state is a country whose economy is dependent on the trade if illegal drugs. Although the Dutch economy is not currently defined by the drug industry, it is an illicit market which has increasing influence on its society. The Netherlands has been described as a central hub for the global drug market due to its many transit ports and the large number of synthetic drugs being produced in the country and distributed around the world.

The death of Wiersum marked the first time in Dutch history that the criminal world murdered a legal representative of the state. The lawyer was representing Nabil B, a key witness against two of the Netherlands’ most wanted suspects. Ridouan Taghi was detained last month while attempting to enter Dubai and held under an international arrest warrant for murder and drug trafficking. The organization he leads, known as “Angels of Death,” is linked to nine assassinations, including that of Derk Wiersum. The arrest was considered a great success, but unfortunately many have doubts that it will prevent young people from following in his footsteps.

Influence Of Drugs On Dutch Society

The Netherlands’ tolerant approach towards drug use and its low penalties for drug-related crimes have contributed to the country’s position as a top producer for drugs. The country is famous for its “gedoodbeleid” or “policy of tolerance” that leads to non-enforcement of soft drug offenses. Distinctions between soft drugs and hard drugs are made under the Opium law of the Netherlands. Drugs with a low risk of harm and/or addiction such as hash, marijuana, sleeping pills, and sedatives are considered “soft drugs.” Hard drugs include heroin, cocaine, amphetamines, LSD, and ecstasy. These substances are considered to have a higher risk of harm and addiction.

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The extensive transport network and transit ports in the Netherlands has turned it into the central distribution hub for marijuana, ecstasy, and cocaine. A majority of soft drugs are imported from South America and North Africa but a significant amount of the world’s synthetic drugs are produced within the country itself. Substances such as MDMA, LSD, amphetamines, and GHB are being transported around the globe, and an estimated 18.8 billion euros ($20.75 billion) worth of ecstasy pills are being produced in Amsterdam yearly. The market is not only big, but it moves quickly as well. On the day Donald Trump was elected president in 2016, orange “Trumpies” ecstasy tablets were found on the streets and 24 hours later they were being sold in Australia. Drugs are becoming harder, profit margins are getting larger, and a new generation of drug crime lords are taking over.

From The Underworld To The Upper World

There has been a steady increase in drug related violence and at least 50 homicides linked to the criminal networks in greater Amsterdam within the last 7 years. Police complain that they are understaffed and unprepared to handle the rise of crime resulting from the flourishing drug trade. Young people growing up in areas ignored by the government and tourists are turning to crime in hopes of making a living. Drug business and violence is going from underground to broad daylight with lawyers, mayors and police officers being threatened by organized crime. There is growing concern over the way the drug economy is undermining and threatening the legitimate economy and society of the Netherlands.

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The country has moved from consuming drugs to producing them on a global scale, creating a lucrative black market. Today, about 59% of Dutch citizens believe the country is now a narco-state. According to chairman of the biggest Dutch police union, Jan Struijs, “If you look at the infrastructure, the big money earned by organized crime, the parallel economy. Yes, we have a narco-state.”

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