Richard David Allen (31) faced seven charges of possessing the class A controlled drug methamphetamine, one charge of supply to an unknown person and one of conspiracy with two others, both from Auckland, to supply the drugs. The charges relate to incidents which occurred between January 5 and April 12.
Justice of the Peace Joy McDonald remanded Allen in custody in Invercargill until his appearance at the Invercargill District Court on April 24.
On Thursday Allen and three other Queenstown people, along with one Auckland man, were arrested after police seized methamphetamine with an estimated street value of "tens of thousands" of dollars.
Methamphetamine, ecstasy, cannabis and firearms were also seized when search warrants were executed in Queenstown.
This was the result of the five-month "Operation Moses", which involved local police and the Dunedin-based Southern District Organised Crime Group.
Detective Senior Sergeant Malcolm Inglis, the officer in charge of the Southern District Organised Crime Group, said the drugs were destined to be sold on Queenstown streets.
A 26-year-old Queenstown woman, a 32-year-old Queenstown man and another Queenstown man in his 30s will appear at the Queenstown District Court in relation to the incident.
Det Snr Sgt Inglis said West Auckland police were still searching for an Auckland man after the discovery of a meth lab in West Auckland.
He said a kilogram of the medicine Contact NT, for colds, had been found at the location.
One kilogram of Contact NT can make up to 280 grams of P, with a street value of about $113,000.
A total of 20 Invercargill and Queenstown police were involved in Thursday's operation.
Several Queenstown police had been flown to Auckland to help with the arrest of the Auckland man.
Det Snr Sgt Inglis said the total operation required more than 30 police.
It had also involved a clandestine laboratory squad.
He said the amount of methamphetamine found on Allen at the Queenstown airport was "reasonable", considering it was Queenstown.
Police believed Allen had made several trips from Auckland to Queenstown with the drug.
However, they had to build up evidence before making the arrest.
This week police would be "formulating" the evidence before further court proceedings, Det Snr Sgt Inglis said.
