Canadian Meth in Beer Cans Kills NZ Man, Exposes Drug Crisis

Tragic Death Uncovers International Drug Smuggling Network

A 21-year-old New Zealand man died after accidentally drinking liquid methamphetamine disguised as Canadian beer, exposing a massive international drug smuggling operation with direct ties to Canada. Aiden Sagala's death on March 2, 2023, has revealed Canada's shocking role as a major methamphetamine exporter to New Zealand, where the drug fetches premium prices on the black market.

The Fatal Mistake

Aiden Sagala thought he was enjoying a cold Canadian beer after a long day at work when his boss gifted him cases of what appeared to be Honey Bear Beer from Canada. 'We thought it was a new brand that's about to start up in New Zealand and we saw the Canadian logo, the flag logo. It was like, oh cool, we thought it was from Canada, that's pretty cool then,' Billy Anelusi, Aiden's brother-in-law, told investigators.

After taking a gulp, Aiden immediately noticed something was wrong. 'Hey bro, does the beer taste salty?' he asked Billy. When Billy tried Aiden's can, he described the taste as 'sea salt with chemicals' and spat it out immediately. Within minutes, Aiden began experiencing severe symptoms, telling his family he thought he was about to die.

New Zealand's Meth Crisis

The single can of lethal methamphetamine that killed Aiden Sagala led police to the largest methamphetamine seizure in New Zealand's history - approximately 700 kilograms of liquid methamphetamine discovered in an Auckland storage unit. According to New Zealand wastewater testing data, meth consumption in the country nearly doubled from 2023 to 2024, rising from 732kg to 1,434kg annually.

Detective Superintendent Greg Williams, head of New Zealand's National Organized Crime Group, explained why criminals target his country: 'Transnational crime groups look at countries like New Zealand... and go, 'This is the golden nugget.' Like, 'I'm going to make a lot more money bringing product to New Zealand.'' The price differential is staggering - while meth costs about $500 per kilogram in Mexico and $10,000 in Canada, it sells for nearly $300,000 per kilogram in New Zealand.

Canada's Role in International Drug Trade

From 2020 to 2024, New Zealand seized more methamphetamine from Canada than from any other country - 1,200 kilograms with an estimated street value of about $350 million. In 2023 alone, New Zealand customs agents seized over 800 kilograms of meth exported from Canada, more than any other source country.

According to an RCMP intelligence document, international gangs including Mexican cartels are increasingly using the Port of Vancouver as a launching point for methamphetamine shipments bound for countries like New Zealand and Australia, where the drug commands far higher prices.

Criminal Prosecutions and Ongoing Investigations

Police identified Baltej Singh, the owner of a local Auckland supermarket, as the mastermind behind the import operation. Singh was sentenced to 22 years in prison for importing methamphetamine, possession for supply, and other drug-related charges. Aiden's boss, Himatjit 'Jimmy' Kahlon, was captured on security camera removing cases of beer from the storage unit and was sentenced to 21 years for manslaughter and possession of methamphetamine for supply.

Kahlon had been helping process the liquid methamphetamine into crystal meth and was giving away excess cans that actually contained beer, accidentally leaving some cans still full of liquid methamphetamine in the cases he distributed.

Despite these convictions in New Zealand, no one has been charged in Canada for their role in exporting the lethal methamphetamine that killed Aiden Sagala. Billy Anelusi expressed his frustration: 'Shut them down and take them to jail. I'll be very brutal about this. This is murder. To be honest, I see it as murder.'

Broader Implications

The case highlights the sophisticated methods drug traffickers use to conceal their products, including disguising liquid methamphetamine as legitimate consumer goods like beer, kombucha, and coconut water. It also underscores the challenges of international law enforcement cooperation in combating transnational drug networks.

As New Zealand grapples with its escalating methamphetamine crisis, with consumption rates increasing by 96% from 2023 to 2024 according to official wastewater data, the death of Aiden Sagala serves as a tragic reminder of the human cost of the international drug trade and the urgent need for coordinated global action.