Overview
- Stuff published Baltej Singh’s identity Saturday after he withdrew a planned Supreme Court appeal that sought permanent name suppression.
- Singh is serving 22 years in prison after pleading guilty to importing more than 700 kilograms of methamphetamine, the largest seizure in New Zealand history.
- Investigators say the network hid liquid and solid meth in everyday beverages, including Canadian beer, U.S. kombucha, and Indian coconut water, then processed it in a rented Auckland unit.
- The probe began after 21-year-old Aiden Sagala died in March 2023 from a meth‑laced beer can, and police soon arrested Singh at Auckland Airport carrying about $10,000 in cash.
- Police have restrained about NZ$36 million in real‑estate assets alleged to be linked to the smuggling operation.