After a tiring day at his job, Aiden Sagala opted to unwind with a cold beer, not realizing the tragic consequences that awaited him. Little did the 21-year-old know that the can he chose contained liquid methamphetamine, leading to his untimely death after just one sip.
The unfortunate incident occurred on March 2, 2023, as Aiden selected a can from a pack of beer gifted to him by his employer, which he brought home. At that time, he was residing in Auckland, New Zealand, with his sister Angela and brother-in-law Billy. Reports from Cp24 indicate that Aiden, Billy, and a friend were enjoying some ‘Honey Bear Beer’ tall cans imported from Canada.
Billy recounted that after Aiden tasted the beer and found it oddly salty, he sampled it himself, discovering a strong chemical taste. Concerned, Aiden phoned his mother and soon exhibited distressing symptoms, expressing his fear of imminent death to his brother-in-law.
As Aiden’s condition worsened, he became agitated and pleaded for his mother’s presence, while Angela, a doctor, attempted to aid him. Despite her efforts, Aiden slipped into a coma and succumbed to multiple organ failure caused by the lethal methamphetamine dose five days later.
The tragedy surrounding Aiden’s death led to the exposure of a major drug trafficking network spanning India, the United States, and Canada. Following New Zealand police investigations, a significant breakthrough was made with the discovery of approximately 700 kilograms of liquid methamphetamine in a storage unit in Auckland, marking the largest methamphetamine seizure in the country’s history.
Authorities revealed that Baltej Singh, a local supermarket owner, had been smuggling methamphetamine disguised as various beverages into New Zealand, including kombucha from the US, coconut water from India, and thousands of cans of Honey Bear beer from Toronto.
Aiden’s boss, known as Himatjit ‘Jimmy’ Kahlon, was implicated in the illicit operation, captured on security footage removing beer cases from the storage unit. He faced accusations of converting the liquid methamphetamine into crystal meth and was charged with manslaughter in connection with Aiden’s demise.
Additionally, Singh, a well-regarded businessman in Auckland from a prominent Indian family, was charged for orchestrating the illegal import operation. The tragic loss of Aiden not only exposed this criminal network but also prompted legal action against those responsible for his fatal encounter with the deadly substance.