Eighth man arrested in alleged celebrity drug ring

An eight man has been arrested for his alleged involvement in a white-collar drug ring with sporting celebrity connections.

The man was arrested in Queenstown on July 28 and will appear in the town's district court next week when it is expected he will be remanded to Auckland where seven other men have been charged.

One of them, Auckland multimillionaire property developer David Henderson has admitted attempting to procure cocaine and will be sentenced next week.

The other six have been remanded until next month for a depositions hearing date to be set.

Two, Phillip James Clark, 31, a central Auckland property developer, and Elliott John Worrall, 30, a Herne Bay businessmen, had suppression orders preventing publication of their names lifted yesterday.

The four others were granted continuing name suppression until a hearing about the issue next week.

Two sporting celebrities named in court documents have so far not been charged and their identities remain protected by suppression orders.

- NZPA