Drug arrest at Queenstown Airport
Two Dunedin men are facing charges relating to importing ecstasy and ketamine through Queenstown Airport.
Police arrested a 23-year-old man at the airport on Friday afternoon, after a joint operation with New Zealand Customs which began in mid-January.
Officers also swooped on a 30-year-old man in Christchurch, who was arrested after a vehicle stop.
Two search warrants were then executed at Dunedin addresses, where police say a number of items of interest were found.
Southern District Crime Manager Detective Inspector Shona Low says both men were due to appear in court on Saturday, charged with multiple importations, and both will have their bail opposed.
"This is an example of the strong partnership Police shares with New Zealand Customs when it comes to investigating the importation of illegal drugs into the country," Show says.
"In executing these search warrants and arresting those we believe are responsible, we’ve made a significant impact in terms of reducing the harm that the drug trade causes within our communities.
"We know this won’t stop the supply of drugs, or others from trying to profit from addiction, but it will put a noticeable dent in the availability of illegal drugs in the district."
Police did not detail the quantity of the class B controlled drug ecstasy and the class C controlled drug Ketamine, but Customs Investigations manager Dominic Adams says they were "significant intercepts".
"We believe this influx of drugs were intended for the local community in the South Island, where they would have caused considerable harm," Adams says.
"Customs works really closely with Police districts up and down the country, and in this case we were able to assist Dunedin Police with information and investigative support which has resulted in today’s [Friday] arrests.”
