One of the six people charged in relation to a Queenstown police drug operation last month appeared in the Queenstown District Court yesterday.
Hayden Mark Smith (31) was "reluctantly" granted bail by Judge Kevin Phillips until May 21, when he will plead on two charges of possession of class B ecstasy and class C cannabis.
It was the second time Smith had been granted bail - the first was under Judge Michael Turner on April 24.
Smith was arrested after the five-month drug "Operation Moses", which also led to the arrest of three others from Queenstown and two in Auckland.
Tattooists Richard Allen (31) and Adam Bamford (31), of Queenstown, and an as yet unnamed 26-year-old Queenstown woman, and Fletcher Butler (34) and Stephen van Engelen (34), both of Auckland, were arrested in the operation.
Bamford and Smith shared a Queenstown address. Bamford admitted charges of possession of utensils and cannabis and was sentenced to nine months' supervision and 175 hours' community work last month by Judge Michael Turner.
Allen will appear in the Queenstown District Court on June 11 for a postcommittal hearing.
The 26-year-old woman has yet to appear in court.
Methamphetamine, ecstasy, cannabis and firearms were seized when search warrants were executed in Queenstown last month.
The methamphetamine, which police estimate had a street value in the "tens of thousands" of dollars, they said was destined to be sold in the resort.
On Friday, van Engelen was also remanded on bail until May 18 when he will appear in the Auckland District Court for a plea inquiry hearing for five charges of supply and administration of the class A drug methamphetamine and amphetamine.
Most of the charges relate to incidents between January 5 and April 12.
Other convictions
• Joseph Richard Cotter (24), of Lake Hawea, entered Lake Hawea Hotel on May 4 without authority with intent to commit a crime (stole a beer), was fined $1000 plus court costs of $132.89.
• Dylan Langley Walker (22), builder, Kelvin Heights, behaved in a disorderly manner likely to cause violence, February 18, on Steamer Wharf and Beach St, Queenstown, fined $400 plus $132.89 court costs.
• Christopher Michael Burton (31), labourer, Wanaka, possession of class C cannabis on May 4 in Wanaka, 80 hours' community work.
• Peter John Barratt (71), doctor, Haast, drink-driving, 273mlg, Pauareka Rd, fined $900 plus $132.89 court costs, disqualified 10 months as of August 13, placed under supervision for 12 months.
• Linh van Tran (20), of Vietnam, residing at Quail Rise, stole chicken liver valued at $6.20 from the Cow restaurant, Queenstown, on May 1, remanded on bail until May 21 with conditions not to enter Cow Lane Restaurant.
• Shane Michael Manaa (39), of Otaki, failed to report to probation officer February 18, failed to tell probation officer of change in address, disorderly behaviour January 26, sentenced six months' prison cumulative.
• Andrew Steven Lee (18), kitchen hand, of Queenstown, being a person under 20 breaching breath-alcohol limit on April 20, 311mcg, in Cromwell, fined $330 plus court costs of $132.89 and disqualified four months.
• Logan Dean Grace (39), painter, Queenstown, assault January 27 and assault of a female, February 17, threatening to do grievous bodily harm, February 17, in Queenstown, sentenced 11 months' prison plus two months concurrent.
