42-year-old Himatjit Jimmy Singh Kahlon has been sentenced by Justice Kiri Tahana to 21 years for manslaughter and meth possession, with a minimum 10-year term.
“I accept that you did not know that the cans you gave to Mr Sagala contained methamphetamine, but you did know that many of the Honey Bear cans contained methamphetamine because you were involved with the extraction,” Justice Tahana observed.
Kahlon and another 32-year-old man (name suppressed by court order) were arrested after police raided a warehouse in Manukau and uncovered pallets of ‘Honey Bear House Beer’ cans allegedly laced with meth.
The investigation was sparked by the tragic death of 21-year-old Aidel Sagala, who unknowingly consumed meth-laced beer. New Zealand Police began their probe after Sagala’s death and launched ‘Operation Lavender,’ which revealed a sophisticated drug smuggling scheme.
It was reported that meth was allegedly smuggled into the country in cans of ‘Honey Bear House Beer,’ Kombucha bottles, and coconut water. The illicit shipments originated from Canada, Los Angeles, and New Delhi.
Kahlon was acquitted of one major drug charge: possession of cocaine for supply. However, intelligence reports indicate that Kahlon’s so-called “trusted businessman friend” was the alleged mastermind of the meth importation ring. While this “trusted businessman friend” was not charged in connection with Sagala’s death, he was deemed the key figure behind the illicit drug network.
The 32-year-old man, arrested while boarding a flight to Dubai, pleaded guilty to multiple drug charges, including importing meth and ephedrine concealed in beer cans and possessing meth and cocaine for supply.
This man was sentenced to 22 years in prison for charges including importing meth, possession of meth for supply and possession of cocaine for supply.
It is reported that intelligence sources noted a sudden increase in the wealth in recent years, with Kahlon’s trusted businessman friend’s father reportedly owning a real estate firm and purchasing a NZ$23 million (Rs 100 crore) property.
This 32-year-old man has also been linked to pro-Khalistan activities in New Zealand, with reports suggesting he played a role in fundraising and organising anti-India demonstrations.
A total of 747kg of methamphetamine, worth hundreds of millions of dollars, was seized from a Manukau warehouse, where investigators found equipment used to convert liquid meth into crystal form. During raids, authorities also recovered over NZ$120,000 in cash and forensic evidence linking Singh to the operation.
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