Drug traffickers Baltej Singh and Hematjit Kahlon lose their latest bid to overturn prison sentences in New Zealand’s biggest methamphetamine importation case.

Two men behind New Zealand’s largest methamphetamine importation operation have failed in their latest attempt to overturn prison sentences of more than 20 years, after the country’s Supreme Court rejected their applications for leave to appeal.Baltej Singh and Hematjit Singh Kahlon were found guilty of an international drug trafficking network that imported up to 741kg of methamphetamine into New Zealand. Drugs were hidden inside the shipments, including beer and kombucha bottles.According to Stuff, the court upheld the sentences issued against the two men, considering that the punishment was justified given the seriousness of their crimes. Singh is serving a 22-year prison sentence, while Kahlon was sentenced to 21 years in prison.

Both men must serve a minimum of 10 years of non-parole.The court said in its ruling that there was no reason to reconsider the rulings and did not find any errors or injustice in the court’s previous decisions. The court said that the scale of the drug smuggling operation and the damage it caused to local communities justified the imposition of strict penalties.The ruling also pointed out the human cost of the crime. Among the consequences linked to the drug network was the death of 21-year-old Eden Sagala, who died after unknowingly consuming alcohol that was mixed with methamphetamine and supplied as part of the criminal operation.

In addition, Kahlon was convicted of manslaughter, along with drug trafficking crimes.Singh was described during court proceedings as a prominent union member and South Auckland-based businessman. He had previously sought to have the name permanently revoked before later abandoning the request.According to Indian Panorama, Baltej Singh is an Indian-origin businessman with roots in Punjab, while Hematjit Singh Kahlon has also been identified as being of Indian origin.