Local business owner in court

Mark Hartley Moore is charged with three counts of possessing psychoactive substances, and one count of selling psychoactive substances. Photo / Thinkstock

A Rotorua business owner has pleaded not guilty to synthetic drugs charges, which were laid after recent police raids.

David Ronald Young, 51, appeared in Rotorua District Court yesterday charged with possessing, manufacturing and selling psychoactive substances.

Young is the owner of Pukuatua St store Skingraft, which sold synthetic cannabis, or legal highs, until they were banned in May.

He pleaded not guilty to the three charges and has elected trial by jury. He was remanded on bail for a case review hearing on January 15. A trial date has not yet been set.

Mark Hartley Moore, 40, and Lehi Danielle Nohokotahi Pehi, 32, also appeared on related offences.

Both entered no pleas and were remanded on bail to reappear on November 19.

Moore is charged with three counts of possessing psychoactive substances, and one count of selling psychoactive substances.

Pehi is charged with possessing 17 rounds of 12-gauge shotgun ammunition.

The trio were arrested last week after more than $900,000 worth of cash and illegal products including synthetic cannabis was seized by police during searches at eight Rotorua addresses.

The searches by about 50 police officers uncovered more than $150,000 in cash, $750,000 worth of illegal products, as well as ammunition and methamphetamine, police said.