A huge police operation has seen every patched member of the Christchurch chapter of the Comancheros gang arrested.
And “millions of dollars’ worth” of illicit drugs have also been seized.
“Police yesterday terminated about 70 warrants as part of the eight-month investigation, dubbed Operation Avon,” police said.
All of Christchurch’s patched Comanchero members were arrested as part of a months-long operation targeting the drugs trade. (Source: 1News)
“In total, 29 warrants were executed on addresses and more than 40 warrants executed on vehicles, predominately in the Christchurch area, with a handful in Auckland.
“Approximately 5kg of class A drugs were seized, along with 11 firearms, ammunition, and about $250,000 cash.
“Eighteen men aged between 18 and 55 were arrested and have been charged, including every patched Comancheros Christchurch member,” the police spokesperson continued.
An Auckland property and 11 vehicles, worth about $1.9 million, were “restrained”.
The gang’s Christchurch chapter became a “priority target” of the National Organised Crime Group after their “brazen alleged offending spread across New Zealand”, police said.
Detective Inspector Darrin Thomson said: “Early on, our investigation identified significant drug offending involving the Class A controlled drugs methamphetamine and cocaine, and extensive money laundering.
“Class A drugs cause untold harm and misery in our communities and the impact on families is intolerable.
“These groups have no hesitation in peddling drugs and accumulating vehicles and property, with no regard for the destruction they cause in everyday New Zealanders’ lives.
“We have no doubt that this disruption of the Comanchero gang will have a positive impact on the drug supply chain across the country.”
Police alleged that the gang relayed drugs and cash between Christchurch and Auckland “every few weeks”.
Thomson said: “Over a million dollars’ worth of drugs at wholesale value were believed to have been moved between the North and South Island, which police will allege at prosecution equates to more than $15 million street value.”
The 18 arrested men have made their first appearances at courts in Christchurch and Auckland.
They face charges including participating in an organised criminal group, conspiracy to supply methamphetamine, and conspiracy to supply cocaine. Further charges are being considered, police said — including money laundering and drug dealing charges.
“Arresting every member of the chapter will put an end to their unwanted presence in our Christchurch community,” Thomson said.
‘They’re funding their lifestyles at New Zealanders’ expense’
Thomson spoke to reporters at a media conference after the announcement.
He said investigators had employed a “suite of tactics” to gather information and evidence.
He also announced a further three arrests in Canterbury related to the operation. The latest arrests bring the total number to 21, he said; 15 in Christchurch and six in Auckland.
The Auckland arrests also included “a number” of patched Comancheros “and a number of associates and nominees as well”.
“I think that the community will be far safer,” he said. “They’re funding their lifestyles at New Zealanders’ expense.”
He “couldn’t say” if this was the first time in New Zealand an entire gang chapter had been arrested.