A major drug trafficker dubbed 'Asia's El Chapo' has been sentenced to 16 years in prison by a court in Thailand. The 54-year-old Canadian national, whose identity has not been disclosed, was arrested in 2021 following a joint operation between Thai and US authorities.
The kingpin was convicted of drug trafficking and money laundering charges. He was found to have orchestrated the smuggling of large quantities of methamphetamine and heroin from Southeast Asia to the United States and other countries.
Prosecutors said the man was a key figure in a transnational criminal network that used fishing vessels and other means to transport drugs across the Pacific. The sentence was handed down by the Criminal Court in Bangkok, which also ordered the confiscation of his assets.
The case highlights ongoing efforts by Thai authorities to crack down on international drug trafficking. The US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) provided assistance in the investigation, which led to the arrest of several other suspects in multiple countries.
