- Nearly every member of the Comanchero Motorcycle Gang now face criminal charges amid a three-year police investigation.
New details about the investigation were released by police today and also revealed the gang was raising money so its members could undergo “military-styled training” by a trainer brought into the country.
It followed a huge gang bust last month that saw every patched member of the Comancheros Christchurch chapter arrested.
Police Commissioner Andrew Coster said today the investigation led to a total of 137 charges being laid against the gang’s members and associates.
Those charged were made up of 17 “office” holders, 10 patched members and 14 prospects of the gang.
Across the three years, police seized 206kg of methamphetamine, which was estimated to cause $215,913.00 million in social harm if it got into the community.
Investigators also seized 1.76kg of cocaine, equating to $657,500 in social harm.
Alongside the hard drugs, police also seized 2.5kg of cannabis, 15 guns, 1184 rounds of ammunition, five properties, 14 vehicles (including motorbikes), 41 Comanchero patches, $1.275 million in cash, and more than 250 electronic devices. A total of $9.2 million in assets were also restrained.
“This investigation represents the single biggest blow to the Comancheros’ operations since Operation Nova,” Coster said.
“Police have dealt a blow right to the heart of this gang’s alleged activities. It is an exceptional outcome and shows the dedication of Police investigators over the course of three years.”
Police Minister Mark Mitchell said the operation not only showed the capability of police but also “how serious this government is about taking down gangs”.
“There is no doubt that this disruption will have a positive impact across the country, while sending a clear message to other gangs that there is no tolerance for their illegal activities, and with the backing of the Coalition Government, Police are coming after them.”
‘Military-styled training’
The investigation was carried out across four phases, with the most recent, dubbed Operation Embargo, looking into a “commission” which ordered members to raise funds to buy a gang pad, two businesses, and guns.
“As an example: It is alleged there would be a $5000 commission on every kilogram sold by their members,” Coster said.
Police alleged the funds were being used to carry out “military-styled training” for 15 of its members by a trainer brought into the country.
Officers carried out 62 searches on residential properties and vehicles earlier this month.
Police seized a total of 2.6kg of cannabis, 760 grams of cocaine, 172 rounds of ammunition, and 83 mobile phones.
Four guns, including two sawn-off shotguns, were seized. Police also found 39 other electronic devices and 32 Comanchero patches.
Police investigate money laundering
Another “complex” phase of the investigation, Operation Scuba, investigated alleged money laundering by the gang.
Police alleged the gang’s “illegal activities’ were used to fund their offending and various acquisitions.
As a result of Operation Scuba, $5.8 million worth of assets were restrained, including two properties. One of the proeprties was the gang’s “Southside” pad in Weymouth.
Police also restrained nearly $1 million in cash, a late-model Range Rover and two “high-specification” Harley Davidson motorcycles.
The operation ended in March this year, and saw 11 people charged.
“This included professional facilitators, who it will be alleged did the money laundering for the gang,” Coster said.
200kg of meth found in farm equipment
The second phase of the investigation was a joint operation between police and Customs during July 2023.
It resulted in 200kg of methamphetamine being found hidden in farm machinery.
Police executed six searches across Auckland which saw eight people charged with a variety of “serious” drug offences.
Every member of Christchurch chapter charged
Late last month, police arrested every patched member of the gang’s Christchurch chapter in what was dubbed Operation Avon.
The third phase of the investigation targeted regular cash and drug runs being carried out between Christchurch and Auckland.
It saw police carry out 70 searches across Christchurch, Dunedin and Auckland and 22 people were charged with various offences.
A total of 6.5kg of methamphetamine, four firearms, and nine Comanchero patches were also seized.
Around $222,000 in cash was recovered, and $1.9 million in assets was restrained.
“From the moment the gang established a presence in this country, they made it very clear they saw themselves as the number one gang in this country,” Coster said.
“From the very beginning, there has been a multi-agency effort to continuously target, disrupt and enforce criminal activity that has been taking place.
“This has resulted in significant criminal prosecution cases as well as assets and profits being stripped away from their grasp.
“This sends a message that there will be an all of government response to the criminal offending, and misery that organised criminal groups continue to plague our communities.
