Canadian authorities have not laid a single charge in connection with two of the largest methamphetamine busts in New Zealand’s history—both traced back to Canada—including the shipment that led to the death of 21-year-old Aiden Sagala, according to a joint investigation by CTV’s W5 and the Investigative Journalism Foundation (IJF).
In January 2023, New Zealand customs intercepted 713 kilograms of methamphetamine hidden in maple syrup bottles shipped from Canada—worth roughly $200 million on the street. Two months later, Sagala died in Auckland after unknowingly drinking liquid meth concealed inside a beer can from a shipment exported from Toronto.
The meth had been disguised as “Honey Bear House Beer,” a fake brand that was part of a sophisticated drug trafficking network. His employer, Himatjit “Jimmy” Kahlon, gave him a case of the beer, unaware that some cans still contained meth. Sagala drank from one of them and died at home, where he lived with his sister, Angela.
“My brother’s a hero because… his death is the reason why they had found out about this,” Angela said in an interview. “If he didn’t die, it’d be still going.”
Kahlon was later convicted of manslaughter and drug trafficking offences and sentenced to 21 years in prison. Another man, Baltej Singh, a prominent Auckland businessman, was sentenced to 22 years for importing methamphetamine and other drug-related charges.
Police raids in the aftermath of Sagala’s death uncovered an Auckland warehouse stacked with nearly 29,000 cans of Honey Bear beer, as well as shipments of kombucha, coconut water, and additional Toronto beer cases—all used to conceal drugs. Investigators seized 747 kilograms of meth, the largest single haul in New Zealand’s history.
Despite these massive seizures and the Canadian origin of the shipments, no one in Canada has been charged.
In a rare interview, RCMP Chief Superintendent Mathieu Bertrand initially told W5 that the agency “was not involved” in the Honey Bear investigation. But in a follow-up statement, the RCMP confirmed it had received intelligence from New Zealand Police, conducted background checks, and shared information internationally—but the investigation led to no charges and no further details have been provided.
W5 obtained New Zealand court documents identifying Petrichor Beverages Inc. as the Canadian company that shipped the Honey Bear beer. Corporate records list Azizdeep Singh Sandhu of Surrey, B.C. as the company’s director. The company was incorporated in 2021, appeared to have shipped only the Honey Bear beer, and was dissolved by the federal government in 2024 for “non-compliance.”
When reached by phone, Sandhu denied involvement, claimed he was a truck driver, and said the RCMP had never contacted him. Soon after the call, he blocked the reporter’s number, removed his WhatsApp photo, and tightened his Facebook security. Property records show Sandhu owns a $1.3-million house in Delta, B.C., purchased in March 2023—the same month Sagala died.
Two and a half years later, Sagala’s family is still waiting for accountability from Canadian authorities. “That’s just shocking,” Angela said. “If the police on our end have done everything to give the information over to Canada… it needs to be more.”
This investigation is part two of a four-part W5–IJF series examining Canada’s growing role as a major exporter of methamphetamine. Part three will explore how Canada has become a key supplier to New Zealand and Australia.