Meth warehouse, beer and the death of innocent 21-year-old Aiden Sagala

Aiden’s death on March 7 last year led detectives to the warehouse on Ryan Place, where they uncovered a multimillion-dollar drug operation.

The warehouse was filled with pallets of blue boxes called Honey Bears that import prosecutors said were designed to deceive. Many cans contained real ale, but others concealed lethal doses of liquid meth.

Mountains of white crystals were found roughly thrown into buckets and scattered across the floor inside the warehouse. Police eventually seized more than 700kg of solid meth, converted from the liquid drained from the cans. The value of the drug shipment is estimated to be at least $80 million.

A. man hiding his name He admitted to importing thousands of blue boxes, as well as bottles of coconut water and kombucha; Many of these also contained meth or ephedrine.

But Aiden was found by his friend Himatjit “Jimmy” Kahlon, who gave him a free box of them. He was found guilty of manslaughter in the High Court in Auckland on Friday.

Kahlon told police during an interview that she had “no idea” her friend was converting meth at the warehouse and thought the white crystal production might have been related to “making cocktails.”

Kahlon claimed that she had “never seen meth” in her life and that her friend, who was a real estate agent and came from a respectable family, “deceived” her.

But this was an excuse neither the jury nor Aiden’s family accepted.

‘He tried to lie’

Aiden’s family of devout Christians is just reporter About the 21-year-old and the case the police filed against Kahlon.

Although police found numerous acetone cans, stovetops and piles of meth in the warehouse, Kahlon claimed to be unaware of the illegal activities.

The 41-year-old’s fingerprints were found on equipment inside, WhatsApp messages revealed he had bought a bucket, gloves and plastic sheets for the warehouse, and CCTV footage showed him carrying trays of blue boxes into the warehouse while Aiden lay in hospital in a coma.

Aiden’s father was blunt about Kahlon’s excuses during the hearing; He lied.

“He tried to lie to get away from all this. He is responsible for the death of my son,” said Ma’a Sagala. reporter.

Kahlon’s lawyers argued that their client “blindly trusted” her friend He pleaded guilty to drug importation charges.

“I do not accept this explanation,” Ma’a said.

But Ma’a, a vicar in Wellington’s Lower Hutt district, said he forgave Kahlon despite the indescribable pain of losing his only son.

“It’s very, very difficult for me. “I can forgive, but I will never forget what you did to my son.”

Aiden and his mother, Lila Sagala, were especially close. On the evening of March 2 last year, when her son fainted after drinking from one of the blue cans at his home in Auckland, he began screaming his mother’s name.

Five days later, on March 7, Aiden died in hospital. Tests showed he died of multiple organ failure following a methamphetamine overdose. The level of meth in his system was “off the charts”, according to Crown attorney Pip McNabb.

More than a year and a half later, Aiden’s sudden and unexpected death was not easy for his mother.

“I went to Samoa to visit my family to clear my mind, but it’s not the same. “I always tell my family that I’m not the same,” Lila said.

he said reporter his son was his “best friend.”

“I tell my husband all the time, it’s not fair that I’ll never see him again. “I sit at his grave and talk to him all the time, thinking that he is still alive.”

‘I wish it were me instead of him’

Aiden was home with a friend and brother-in-law, Billy Anelusi, when he collapsed and turned blue after taking a swig from one of the meth-laced cans.

All three were drinking from the blue cans Kahlon had given Aiden.

The pair worked together at Fonterra, and it was the Crown’s case that Kahlon tried to get rid of “junk” boxes that did not contain meth by distributing them to friends and family.

However, one of the boxes Aiden came across contained the lucrative drug.

Crown lawyers argued that Kahlon failed to take reasonable care and precautions when delivering the free boxes and was therefore grossly negligent and liable for Aiden’s death.

A housewife who used to play the piano in church, Aiden had little interest in alcohol and wondered if the salty taste of her beer was normal.

After asking his brother-in-law about the strange taste of the beer, his attitude began to change. After brushing his teeth and taking a shower to get rid of the taste, he returned to the living room feeling uneasy.

While testifying in court, Anelusi said, “He looked at us and came like a storm and said ‘I’m about to die’.”

Anelusi told reporter He thinks about that night all the time.

“It broke my heart because it was like I was one of the lucky ones who didn’t consume that (text-added) box.

“To be honest, I wish it were me instead because his (Aiden’s) life hasn’t even started yet. He’s just a young kid.”

While Aiden was in the hospital, Kahlon visited Anelusi at his home to retrieve the boxes he had given Aiden a few days earlier.

I knew you weren’t here to talk about what happened to Aiden. All he cared about was the beers. From my point of view, he knew what was in those boxes. He knew.

Anelusi said claims that Kahlon knew nothing about the meth operation were “complete lies.”

On March 11, 2023, four days after Aiden’s death in hospital, police sent out a public health alert warning the public not to consume the blue boxes distributed to the public.

Anelusi believes Aiden prevented others from getting sick or possibly dying and prevented large amounts of meth from hitting the streets.

“Aidan was a hero and gave his life… We will cherish that for the rest of our lives.”

‘Aiden was a hero’

The jury returned the guilty verdict on Friday after less than two hours of deliberation in the public gallery, which was met with tears from Aiden’s family.

Eldest sister Rachel Sagala Raeli said: reporter While the guilty verdict was comforting, he still hoped Kahlon would confess to her crimes.

“I prayed that he would be quite honest to admit his mistake. I was hoping you would humble yourself. “It was her duty to look after him (Aiden) at work and she failed to do so.”

He believes that the consequences of the case are not just about his family.

“This is about making New Zealand a better place because this shouldn’t have happened.”

He echoed Anelusi’s sentiments: reporter Aiden was a “hero.”

“If it wasn’t for his death, they’d still be out there doing these things.”

He said the large quantities of drugs being imported into New Zealand were “frightening” and urged caution if anyone was given gifts of food or drink, especially because of the pandemic. methamphetamine-laced sweets recently donated to Auckland City Mission.

“With all this candy out there and Halloween coming soon, we need to be careful. Don’t take or accept anything for free from anyone.”

He remembers his brother as a “cheeky, talented” teenager who was a talented dancer with a beautiful voice.

‘I knew we’d name him Aiden’

Amidst the turmoil of losing the young man who “always made our family laugh”, Aiden’s younger sister Angela Sagala and her husband Anelusi welcomed a baby boy.

13-week-old Aiden Anelusi Sagala-Mila was named after his late uncle.

Angela said little Aiden brought joy to their home and now sleeps in the same room where senior Aiden sleeps.

“We lost a life, but we got a life back from God through my son. “Physically, we can’t bring him (senior Aiden) back, but with my son, it’s like he’s at home,” she said.

Aiden’s sister remembers her brother as a man who was always joking, loved his family, was considerate around the house and always offered to help around the house.

“He was such a beautiful soul and we truly miss him. We think about him all the time.”

He told the court police video showing the extent of the illegal methamphetamine operation at the Manukau warehouse left him angry and shocked.

Like the rest of her family, she rejected Kahlon’s excuses and called her claims “complete nonsense.”

“You wouldn’t buy anything for that warehouse (without your knowledge). What kind of person asks a friend, ‘What are you doing?’ He doesn’t ask. “He knew (the illegal drug scheme) from the beginning.”

He’s grateful for the efforts of the police, how detectives and attorneys have been “informative and supportive,” and the kindness he’s received from family and friends.

“We can’t bring him back, but at least we will get justice for my brother. “I know it’s not the Christian way, but at least someone is responsible for it.”

He said Aiden’s death “turned our lives upside down” and the consequences were exhausting for everyone.

“We now want to bury our brother’s name in history. “I hope this never happens to another family again.”

Michael Morrah is a senior investigative reporter/team leader. reporter. She won best news on a major news event at the 2024 Voyager New Zealand Media Awards and has been named reporter of the year twice. He has been a television journalist for 20 years and reporter‘s Video team in July 2024.