Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi
An 18-year-old has been arrested for the sale and supply of MDMA in Hokitika.
He was due to appear in Greymouth District Court next week.
Police detective senior sergeant Kirsten Norton said police were aware of a lot of concern about the possible presence of MDMA and other drugs in Hokitika and other parts of the West Coast.
"We take these concerns seriously and I hope this arrest provides some reassurance to our community," she said.
With summer events and festivals on the horizon, Norton said people need to take extreme care as what they may think is one drug could be something completely different.
Anyone experiencing concerning or unexpected effects after taking something can anonymously report this to New Zealand's drug early warning system [www.highalert.org.nz. High Alert.]