Baltej Singh, a New Zealand businessman and the nephew of one of Indira Gandhi’s assassins who is serving a 22-year prison sentence in New Zealand for masterminding one of the country’s largest methamphetamine importation operations, has lost a legal bid to keep his name suppressed.
His identity was revealed on March 28, 2026 by New Zealand media outlet Stuff after courts lifted name suppression orders granted over fears that his family’s notoriety among Sikhs and Hindus worldwide could expose them to harm.
Singh was apprehended at Auckland Airport while attempting to board a flight to Dubai, booked on the same day. Investigators allege the timing indicated an attempt to flee the country as the investigation closed in. He was later convicted and sentenced to 22 years in prison on charges including the importation of methamphetamine, ephedrine, and cocaine,
Baltej Singh, the nephew of Satwant Singh, one of the two bodyguards involved in the assassination of late Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1984.
Citing a recent investigation by New Zealand’s largest news organisation, Stuff, the Khalsa Vox report said that Baltej Singh has been publicly identified as the central figure behind the record-breaking drug seizure.
“For nearly two years, Singh’s identity remained protected under New Zealand’s strict name suppression laws, legal provisions that allow courts to restrict publication of an accused person’s identity. However, these protections apply only domestically. International media outlets, including Indian publications and Canada’s CTV News, had already revealed his name in earlier reports,” the Khalsa Vox report detailed.
According to the report, the investigation by New Zealand’s authorities began with a fatal incident on March 2, 2023, when 21-year-old Aiden Sagala died after consuming liquid methamphetamine concealed in beverage cans labelled ‘Honey Bear Beer’.
What initially seemed to be an isolated tragedy soon escalated into a nationwide probe. “Authorities traced the source to a storage facility in Auckland, where they uncovered approximately 700 kilograms of liquid methamphetamine — the largest seizure of its kind in New Zealand’s history. The drugs had been ingeniously disguised within everyday imports: kombucha shipments from the United States, coconut water from India, and tens of thousands of beer cans shipped from Canada,” it stated.
New Zealand authorities say Singh played a central role in an international drug-smuggling network that concealed methamphetamine inside commercial shipments labelled as beverages.
After arresting him, police also found over $10,000 in cash in his backpack. Searches of Baltej Singh’s rented storage units, meanwhile, revealed 338.6 kg of solid meth and another 428.6 kg of liquid containing an estimated 260-340 kg of the banned drug.
Police also recovered $121,600 from the boot of Singh’s Chrysler 300.
Notably, in 2021, cans of coconut water arriving in New Zealand from New Delhi were found to contain dissolved methamphetamine and ephedrine, a precursor chemical used to manufacture the drug, Stuff reported. In 2022, containers arriving in New Zealand from Canada and the US carried tens of thousands of cans of “Honey Bear” lager beer and bottles of kombucha. Police later discovered the beverages were being used to transport liquid methamphetamine into the country.
The drugs were sent to an industrial unit where they were converted into crystal meth. Police seized more than 700kg of liquid and crystallised methamphetamine — the largest haul ever uncovered by New Zealand.
“A co-accused, Himatjit Jimmy Singh Kahlon, was found guilty of manslaughter for distributing the meth-laced cans that led to Sagala’s death. He received a 21-year sentence,” it added.
The report further noted that as the probe unfolded, New Zealand Police seized assets valued at around NZ$36 million, including real estate suspected to be linked to the drug network.
Baltej Singh’s name suppression case
Around the time of his arrest, Baltej Singh also applied for permanent name suppression to prevent his name from being published, and the High Court granted it after his lawyer argued that the Auckland businessman and his family would face extreme danger if he were named.
In support of the appeal, Baltej’s father also submitted an affidavit in court declaring that the family had “become notorious” among Sikhs and Hindus due to their ties to Indira Gandhi’s assassin, and were subject to constant threats and intimidation.
However, the High Court decision was opposed by the Crown in November 2025, and the Court of Appeal ruled in the Crown’s favour, allowing the naming of Baltej Singh.
