Two gang members have pleaded not guilty to meth-dealing charges.
William Wiki (34) and Jay Kiwi (32) appeared via audio-visual link in the Dunedin District Court this morning, each facing one count of possession of methamphetamine for supply.
Both men were represented by senior Auckland barrister Peter Kaye.
Court documents list both men's home addresses as being in Tauranga.
The men were arrested by uniformed police and detectives just outside the Dunedin Airport terminal about 10.30am on September 9 after arriving on a flight from the North Island.
Police said, following the arrests, that the men had ounces of the class-A controlled drug in their possession.
Police would not say exactly how much of the drug, also known as “P”, was found in the pair’s possession, but estimated the street value of methamphetamine at $1000 per gram. There are 28g in an ounce.
No details of the case were discussed in court this morning, but Mr Kaye entered not guilty pleas on behalf of both men.
They were remanded in custody by consent until October 4, so Mr Kaye could make inquiries could be made into locating appropriate bail addresses for the men.
The men have elected trial.
A witness to the arrests said one of the men attempted to dump two packages and run from police at the airport.
"He was running towards the gates by the runway," the witness said. "He chucked a couple of packages up towards the roof. One landed on the roof and one landed on the ground."
The witness estimated that a dozen officers were involved in the arrests, some with rifles and dogs. Police cordoned off the area where the arrests took place.
The witness saw a glass pipe — such as can be used to smoke drugs — which came from one of the men, smashed on the ground.