Music promoter to defend cocaine charges

Next month's Kiss concert in New Zealand is going ahead as planned.

An Australian music promoter says New Zealand reggae festival Raggamuffin and an upcoming tour by rockers Kiss will go ahead, despite his arrest.

Andrew McManus was arrested at Melbourne Airport along with four others last week over an alleged cocaine smuggling ring following a four-year joint investigation between NSW Police and the United States' FBI, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.

In a statement, McManus said he would "strenuously defend the charges that have been brought against him".

Raggamuffin crowds enjoy the 2014 festival.

McManus was reportedly charged with perverting the course of justice, two counts of intention to defraud by false or misleading statement and knowingly participating in a criminal group.

But the statement disputed reports that his arrest was related to" any drug syndicate, drug importation or money laundering".

Kiss' concert at Auckland's Vector Arena, and the Raggamuffin music festival at Trusts Arena in West Auckland on February 20, would go ahead as planned, the statement said.

- nzherald.co.nz