A man arrested at Queenstown Airport from a flight from Auckland yesterday had a substantial amount of methamphetamine destined for the tourist market, police say.

The arrest of the 31-year-old man was the result of a five-month operation involving Queenstown police, the Southern District organised crime group, and West Auckland police, Detective Senior Sergeant Malcolm Inglis said.

Police believed the methamphetamine would have been sold in Queenstown, where it was easy to make "fast money off the tourist industry".

One person was arrested in Auckland and another three people were arrested in Queenstown on drug-related charges, Mr Inglis said.

- APNZ