Police investigation ‘deals blow to heart’ of Comancheros motorcycle gang, with nearly every member facing criminal charges
Nearly every single member of the Comancheros motorcycle gang is facing active criminal charges, according to police who have today revealed a long-running investigation spanning three years.
As a result of four phases of this investigation, police allege the Comancheros was operating as an organised criminal group conducting a complex money laundering operation; drug importation and supply operations; and a “Commission” scheme to fund, among other things, military-style training for some of its members.
Police Commissioner Andrew Coster says cumulatively 137 charges have been laid against the gang’s members and associates.
Those charged include 17 “office” holders, 10 patched members and 14 prospects of the gang.
Scott Palmer
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Police promise to hold gangs accountable
Scott Palmer
Coster said this illustrates the capability that police has to intervene in the most sophisticated offending.
"Any gang out there intent pedalling harm into our communities can expect police to be onto it and we will hold people accountable."
New Comancheros chapters
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Williams said the Comancheros had been expanding, with the recent set-up of the Christchurch chapter and in Auckland central being set up "now".
Police expect significant disruption to drug supply
Scott Palmer
Williams said New Zealand would now see significant disruption to the supply of serious, harmful drugs coming into the community.
'You'll be put in a body bag'
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Williams said the gang was capable of extreme violence and had already been tied to several murders.
Police had listened in to the gang's communications. Comanchero members were told clearly that if they left the gang "you'll be put in a body bag".
"Right when they first arrived here they made it clear they were going to be the number one gang here," Williams said.
Williams said police had seen a number of recent murders that the Comancheros were linked to.
He said there was a case before the court "right now" where police alleged the Comancheros attempted to kill a Comanchero member who tried to leave the gang.
He said one of the gang's commandments was; "Once a Comanchero, always a Comanchero".
Military-style training
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On the military-style training, Williams said it was taking place in Auckland and Northland, but couldn't go into more detail.
Comanchero numbers
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Detective Superintendent Greg Williams said police believed there were about 92 Comanchero members in the country.
He said police believed only 11 were not currently facing any criminal charge.
Williams said an "office holder" was anybody who held positions of power in the group.
Gang accused of running 'commission scheme'
Scott Palmer
Coster said they were also running a "commission scheme" to fund military-style training for some members, among other things.
"Police have dealt a blow right to the heart of this gang's alleged activities."
Coster said the Comancheros were a persistent group and didn't expect the gang would stop "their efforts".
Coster calls it 'considerable blow'
Scott Palmer
Police Commissioner Andrew Coster said police have dealt a "considerable blow" to the Comanchero motorcycle gang.
"We've laid a total of 137 charges against almost every member of the Comancheros leadership and several of their gang prospects."
Coster said those charged include 17 office holders, 10 patched members and 14 prospects.
Coster said it was a result of a four-phase operation.
"While mindful that there are judicial processes underway now, I can say that police will allege the Comancheros were operating as an organised criminal group, conducting a complex money laundering operation, drug importation and supply operations."
Police hold standup after Comancheros investigation
Scott Palmer
Police are holding a standup after a major three-year investigation targetting the Comanchero gang.
As a result of four phases of this investigation, police allege the Comancheros was operating as an organised criminal group conducting a complex money laundering operation; drug importation and supply operations; and a 'Commission' scheme to fund, among other things, military-style training for some of its members.
As a result, nearly all the gang's members and associates face criminal charges. Those charged include 17 ‘office’ holders, 10 patched members and 14 prospects of the gang. Police have also restrained assets.
Commissioner Andrew Coster and Detective Superintendent Greg Williams are set to speak to media at 4:15pm from Wellington.
“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.
“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.”
In its most recent phase, Operation Embargo, investigators from the National Organised Crime Group sought evidence about a directive allegedly sent out to Comanchero members three years ago.
It is alleged this directive ordered members to follow rules being set up around the “Commission”.
As an example: It is alleged there would be a $5000 commission paid on every kilogram sold by their members.
“This commission processes allegedly raised funds to purchase a gang pad, two businesses as well as purchasing of firearms,” Commissioner Coster says.
“Police will also allege that these funds were being used to carry out military-styled training of 15 of its members by a trainer brought into the country for this purpose.”
Police Minister Mark Mitchell has congratulated Police on the results of their operation, and said it shows how serious the Government is about taking down gangs.
“These gangs have used their shiny brand to recruit, while inflicting misery on entire communities, through selling drugs and using violence to intimidate, and using the proceeds to support lavish lifestyles,” he said in a statement.
“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.”
Earlier this month, 62 search warrants were carried out on residential properties and vehicles across New Zealand.
In total, police seized 2.6kg of cannabis, 760g of cocaine, 172 rounds of ammunition, and 83 mobile phones.
Four firearms, including two sawn-off shotguns, were seized. Police also located 39 other electronic devices and 32 Comanchero patches.
Coster also revealed the outcome of Operation Scuba, which was a complex money laundering investigation that started in 2021
Police allege the investigation showed that profit from the gang’s illegal activities was used to fund the gang’s criminal offending and acquisitions.
In total, $5.8 million worth of assets were restrained, including two properties, and Operation Scuba ended in March this year, resulting in 11 people being charged.
“This included professional facilitators, who it will be alleged did the money laundering for the gang,” Coster said.
One of these properties was the gang’s “Southside” pad in Weymouth.
Police also restrained nearly $1m in cash, a late-model Range Rover and two high-specification Harley Davidson motorcycles.
Another phase was Operation Brewer which discovered 200kg of methamphetamine being found hidden in farm machinery.
Following six search warrants being carried out across Auckland, eight people were charged with a variety of serious drug-related offences.
Finally, late last month, police arrested every patched member of the Christchurch chapter of the gang in Operation Avon, which targeted regular cash and drug runs between Auckland and Christchurch.
Seventy warrants were carried out across Christchurch, Dunedin and Auckland.
Twenty-two people have been charged with a variety of serious offences.
Police also seized 6.5kg of methamphetamine, four firearms, nine Comanchero patches.
Jared Savage is an award-winning journalist who covers crime and justice issues, with a particular interest in organised crime. He joined the Herald in 2006, and is the author of Gangland and Gangster’s Paradise.