Security firm's licence revoked after employees charged with drug offences

Eight men have been arrested after raids in Queenstown in relation to the possession and supply of class-A drugs.

Otago Lakes Central investigations manager Detective Senior Sergeant Steve Salton said five of the men were security guards working as doormen at local bars and clubs, and a security company had been stripped of its licence as a result.

Police had executed several search warrants in the Queenstown area during the past two months.

Officers seized more than $120,000 in cash as well more than 60 grams of cocaine and quantities of ketamine, GBL and MDA.

The eight men had been charged with drug offences relating to cocaine, ecstasy, cannabis and other drugs.

Salton said it was a great result to get the drugs off the street.

"It's disappointing to see that people working in roles intended to keep people safe are in fact doing the opposite and causing huge amounts of community harm in the supply of these drugs," Salton said.

"Our enquiries into these matters are ongoing and we cannot rule out further arrests.

"Police continue to investigate the supply of illicit drugs in the Queenstown area and anyone with information around this type of offending is urged to get in touch."

Anyone with information about the drug supply in the area was asked to contact police or could anonymously supply information to CrimeStoppers on 0800 555 111.

Three of the men appeared in the Queenstown District Court on Thursday, four more will appear in court in Queenstown or Invercargill next week and another will appear in Queenstown later in June.

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