Pure methamphetamine blocks disguised as confectionery and distributed through Auckland City Mission food parcels in July 2024 contained an estimated 300 doses per package, according to police documents detailing an international drug syndicate led by Chinese citizen Yu Wang and Malaysian arrival Chen Yee Cheah. While the specific source of those lollies remains unsolved due to insufficient evidence linking them directly to the defendants’ seized shipments, New Zealand authorities tied both men to a massive commercial import operation involving P2P “super meth” and pseudoephedrine.
Operation Bravo and the Syndicate Structure
Police launched Operation Bravo in May 2024 after tracking illicit packages sent from overseas to various Auckland addresses under fake names. Court documents describe Yu Wang, 31, as the drug syndicate boss who employed Chen Yee Cheah, who turns 29. Investigators found Wang paid Cheah’s rent and living expenses while directing him to monitor and collect parcels, edit shipping names and addresses, and provide contact numbers. Police swooped on Cheah’s Burswood home and Wang’s Mt Wellington property with search warrants in June 2024, uncovering extensive drug manufacturing equipment and bulk supplies.
Meth Laboratories and P2P Production Plans
At Cheah’s home, police discovered roughly 81,000 pseudoephedrine tablets—enough to cook about 2.5kg of methamphetamine—alongside 1.5kg of methamphetamine, 246g of MDMA, clandestine lab equipment, and over 60 mobile phone SIM cards with shipping labels. According to court documents, Wang’s home housed an operational clandestine laboratory for producing pseudoephedrine, a cold and flu medication requiring pharmacist consultation. Officers also searched a Mt Wellington storage unit visited by both defendants, locating manufacturing gear and a 14-litre plastic storage container bearing both of their fingerprints. Documents state the equipment would form a P2P (Phenyl-2-Propanone) drug manufacturing laboratory, supported by a PDF construction guide found on Wang’s phone.
International Mail Intercepts and Meth Imports
New Zealand Customs and international agencies intercepted numerous parcels addressed to the syndicate before police executed their search warrants. Authorities traced eight Customs-intercepted imports containing a combined total of 12.7kg of methamphetamine to Cheah between April and July 2024, and about 15.8kg to Wang during the same period. Shipments arrived from Malaysia, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Spain, and Thailand, concealed inside footwear, VR headsets, tea cups, ottomans, pillows, and aluminum tins. The final intercepted package arrived on July 3, 2024, containing 697.5g of methamphetamine disguised as lollies from Malaysia’s Rinda confectionery company, sent to a fictitious recipient named “Joe Wilson” in Greenlane.
Precedents and Upcoming Sentencing
Police noted similarities between the Auckland City Mission incident and the March 2023 death of 21-year-old Aiden Sagala, who overdosed after drinking liquid methamphetamine from a can labeled “Honey Bear” beer. Wealthy South Auckland businessman Baltej Singh is currently serving a 22-year prison sentence for that import, while Fonterra manager Himatjit Kahlon serves 21 years for manslaughter. In the current case, police charged Cheah with possessing just over 6kg of controlled drugs for supply and Wang with possessing almost 9.5kg based on communications showing photos of drugs on scales and $102,650 in cash. Both men face sentences of up to life imprisonment when they appear in the Auckland District Court in October.
Did you know? P2P methamphetamine, often called “super meth,” became more common in the 1970s and is noted by the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation for triggering meth-induced psychosis more quickly and severely than older variants.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was found in the food parcels distributed by the Auckland City Mission?
Each small package contained an estimated 300 doses of pure methamphetamine disguised as commercial lollies. A mother and her 3-year-old daughter spat out the drugs due to their bitter taste.
Are Yu Wang and Chen Yee Cheah linked to the lolly drop?
Police stated there was insufficient evidence to directly link the two defendants to the Auckland City Mission distribution case, despite identical packaging found in an intercepted mail shipment.
What penalties do the defendants face?
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