Featured Image Credit: (CTV News)
Topics: World News, Drugs, Crime, Alcohol
Brenna Cooper
Shocking images have revealed the aftermath of a $200million NZD (£85million) drug bust in New Zealand, after a young man died from drinking a single sip of 'beer'.
In March 2023, Aiden Sagala came home from his job in Auckland, New Zealand, and decided to crack open a case of Canadian 'Honey Bear' beers gifted to him by his boss. The 21-year-old shared the drinks with his Billy Anelusi, however quickly realised something was wrong after taking his first sip.
Noting that his drink tasted 'salty', Aiden offered the can to Billy to try, who immediately spat the drink out and agreed that it tasted like 'sea salt with chemicals'.
It would turn out that the 'beer' Aiden had opened was actually full of liquid methamphetamine, with a single sip delivering a fatal dose.
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Aiden would quickly fall into a coma and pass away in the hospital five days later.
The cause of Aiden's death prompted police in New Zealand to launch a major investigation - named Operation Lavender - into the import of illegal drugs into the country.
What they would ultimately uncover was a warehouse filled with NZ$200million (£85million) of illicit substances.
Police would confiscate over 700 kilograms of methamphetamine alone, which is the largest amount ever seized in the country. According to police, drugs seized at the property had been imported from Canada, India and the US, disguised as beer. maple syrup, coconut water and kombucha.
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Buckets of crystal meth were also found at the location.
Police also seized NZ$36million (£15million) worth of properties which had been linked to the illegal trade (via New Zealand Police).
Police also arrested Aiden's boss, Himatjit 'Jimmy' Kahlon, who was later sentenced to 21 years behind bars for manslaughter and possession for supply of methamphetamine.
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It's understood that Kahlon had been responsible for giving away the cans of untainted beer used as part of the smuggling operation, and unintentionally gave away a case containing meth to Aiden.
A second man, named Baltej Singh, received a 22-year sentence after being convicted of possession for supply of methamphetamine and importing methamphetamine.
However, a joint investigation from the Investigative Journalism Foundation and CTV News revealed that no charges had been made regarding the export of drugs from Canada.
"That’s just shocking," Aiden's sister Angela told CTV News about the lack of Canadian arrests.
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"It makes me even more angry now just hearing about that. If the police on our end have done everything to give the information over to Canada."
She went on to describe her brother as a 'hero', adding: "His death is the reason why they had found out about this."