Aiden Sagala died after unknowingly drinking a beer laced with meth. His sister, Angela Sagala, has issued a warning after laced lollies were distributed to an unknown number of families in Auckland.
Angela Sagala condemns those importing meth-laced lollies, recalling her brother Aiden Sagala’s tragic death.
Three people hospitalised after consuming meth-laced lollies have been discharged.
Police urge the public to remain vigilant, saying it’s “vital” the lollies are taken out of circulation.
The sister of a young man who died after unknowingly drinking liquid methamphetamine from a can of beer has called those who imported meth-laced lollies “reckless and careless” and says she hopes no one dies as a result.
Angela Sagala’s brother, Aiden Sagala, 21, died in March last year after taking a few sips from a can he thought contained beer. The blue cans branded as ‘Honey Bear House Beer’ actually contained pure liquid methamphetamine.
Aiden Sagala of Auckland died after drinking beer contaminated with methamphetamine in 2023. Photo / Supplied
Angela Sagala told the Herald she was shocked and upset to see the alert about meth-laced lollies circulating in Auckland.
“I was quite heartbroken and thought I hope no one goes through what my family went through last year,” she said.
“It did make me upset. It brought it all back again to the night it happened [when Aiden collapsed]. I just thought this is horrible. Those memories are not something that I want to go back and think about but definitely very angry.”
Angela Sagala is the sister of Aiden Sagala who died after drinking beer contaminated with methamphetamine in March 2023. Photo / Supplied
Three people, including a child, a teenager and a charity worker were taken to hospital after tasting the lollies but have since been discharged.
“I just hope families that have been affected by consuming the lollies are recovering well and no one dies from consuming these laced lollies. My heart goes out to those families,” Angela told the Herald.
The Rinda-branded pineapple lollies were donated to the Auckland City Mission.
Each lolly is believed to have contained around 300 doses of meth, which experts say could be lethal.
Police say they’ve recovered 16 lollies in total, but it is unknown how many might have been distributed when they were sent out in food parcels.
The lollies found to contain methamphetamine. Photo: NZ Drug Foundation.
Detective Inspector Glenn Baldwin, from Auckland City Police, who previously worked on the meth-laced beer investigation, said police believe the drug-laced candy was also imported.
“It is vital for police that these lollies are taken out of circulation as soon as possible,” he said.
“This will be raw for [Sagala’s family]. He was an innocent man who did nothing wrong.
“He tragically died. Absolutely [we] do not [want to see it happen again].”
Angela Sagala encouraged anyone in possession of the distinctive, yellow-wrapped hard-boiled lollies to contact police.
“Please come forward. Come forward to the police,” she said.
“Just be vigilant. If you’re receiving things that we know are not familiar and not sold in our country, just be vigilant and cherish your loved ones.”
Hamatjit Singh Kahlon, 40, is facing a manslaughter charge over Aiden’s death along with several drug-related charges.
Michael Morrah is a senior investigative reporter/team leader at the Herald. He won the best coverage of a major news event at the 2024 Voyager NZ Media Awards and has twice been named reporter of the year. He has been a broadcast journalist for 20 years and joined the Herald in July 2024.
