Two Queenstown residents appeared in the Queenstown District Court yesterday in relation to a police drug operation in the resort in April.
Hayden Mark Smith (31) faces one charge of possession of class C drug cannabis and one charge of possessing the party pill drug Benzylpiperazine (BZP).
Smith was remanded by Judge Kevin Phillips to reappear on July 2.
Sarah Rose Fry (27), an associate who has the same address as Smith, was charged with having in her possession the Class A drug cocaine.
She denied the charges yesterday.
Fry was remanded on bail to appear for a status hearing on July 2.
The original charge against Smith, of possessing ecstasy, was amended to BZP.
The six-month "Operation Moses" police operation focused on Queenstown, Invercargill, Dunedin and Auckland.
During the operation, police estimate $100,000 of class A drugs were seized.
To date, nine arrests have been made - two Auckland men, a man and a woman, from Invercargill, two Queenstown women and three Queenstown men. Last week, police made a further two arrests and announced they were still seeking one other man.
Those facing drugs charges are aged from 31 to 34.
Police seized methamphetamine, ecstasy, cannabis and firearms when search warrants were executed in Queenstown during the operation, which involved local police and the Dunedin-based Southern District Organised Crime Group.
A drugs laboratory was also discovered in Auckland.
Police believe more than 100g of drugs, with an estimated street value of $100,000, had been distributed through the supply chain.
Twenty Invercargill and Queenstown police were involved in the operation.
Other convictions
• Sebestian Brochard (24), kitchen hand, of France, theft of a cellphone and wallet, combined value $400, Cowboys Bar Queenstown, June 5, 40 hours' community work.
• Thomas Jeffrey Albert Koberstein (24), receptionist, careless driving, Glenorchy Rd, January 26, 120 hours' community work and disqualified 12 months.
• Kerry Colin Christian (53), of Lakes Hayes Estate, refused to give blood alcohol sample to police officer, Howards Dr, May 31, 80 hours' community work, disqualified seven months.
• James Edward Foster (43), security officer, of Queenstown, drink-driving, 149mg, Lake Esplanade, April 14, fined $670, court costs $132.89, disqualified six months.
• Anne Moroney (51), aviation security officer, of Queenstown, drink-driving, 667mcg, Lake Esplanade, March 23, fined $600, disqualified six months.
