New Delhi: Baltej Singh, the nephew of Satwant Singh who was one of the assassins of former PM Indira Gandhi, has been named by New Zealand media as the alleged kingpin behind the country’s largest methamphetamine seizure.
A report published by leading New Zealand news outlet Stuff.co.nz traced the family’s journey from Punjab’s militant past to their alleged hand in transnational drug trafficking.
What’s the case
The case is valued at NZ$180 million (Rs 180 crore). It involved 100 kg of meth concealed inside rice cookers shipped from the UK. The meth was later discovered during a January 2026 raid on a property in Whangārei.
The disclosure of Singh’s identity comes following a High Court verdict that lifted long-running name suppression, citing public safety concerns and the perils posed by criminal networks.
How his name was made public
Baltej was named by the New Zealand media as the mastermind behind a Rs 180-crore (NZ$36 million) drug operation after he withdrew his bid for permanent name suppression.
Earlier, Baltej had got legal shield preventing local outlets from naming him, mentioning safety risks to his family. In the end, the court directed that the principle of open justice took precedence over those concerns, particularly as his identity was already circulated internationally.
In New Zealand, name suppression orders apply only within the country and become ineffective once identities are widely reported outside the country.
In Baltej’s case, his name had been reported by Indian and international media following his 2023 arrest, defeating the purpose of continued anonymity.
A long legal battle came to an end after Baltej withdrew his appeal. This paved the way for the local media to publicly name him in connection with allegedly the country’s largest meth seizure.
How New Zealand’s biggest meth seizure took place
Investigators said Baltej carried out a sophisticated drug smuggling network. It imported more than 700 kilograms of methamphetamine — mostly in liquid form — hidden within everyday consumer goods.
The consignments were disguised as beverages such as kombucha, coconut water, and thousands of beer cans. This allowed the drugs to pass undetected via multiple international routes.
In 2023, following the death of a 21-year-old, the case came to light. The youth, in his ignorance, consumed meth-laced liquid from one such container. A large-scale probe followed that took authorities to a storage facility in Auckland, where most of the drugs was confiscated.
Police arrested Baltej at Auckland Airport as he was trying to fly to Dubai. Later, he was sentenced to 22 years in prison. Another man who allegedly distributed the tainted product was also convicted of manslaughter and handed a sentence similar to that of Baltej.