His downfall came with the police’s Operation Avon, in which 21 were arrested as officers executed dozens of search warrants in the Christchurch area, with a handful in Auckland, in August 2024.
The Christchurch chapter of the Comancheros became a priority target of the National Organised Crime Group (NOCG) in early 2024, supported by Canterbury police, as their offending spread across New Zealand.
Wikaira, 43, admitted his part in supplying and conspiring to supply the drugs and participating in the organised criminal group.
The High Court at Christchurch heard Wikaira had been heard in a recorded incident intimidating a debtor.
Justice Mander said Wikaira was well connected to the upper echelons of the group, which transported at least 30kg of the drugs between Auckland and Christchurch.
The court heard Wikaira was photographed at various times in meetings with senior members and at one stage attended an international gang conference in Spain which cost $28,000.
Justice Mander said Wikaira was supplying commercial quantities of the drugs in Timaru.
On termination of Operation Avon, police searched Wikaira’s address and found more than $8000 and a number of Prezzy Cards.
Justice Mander told Wikaira he would be familiar with the misery and social deprivation caused by drug dealing, based on his life experience.
The court heard Wikaira’s parents had been heroin addicts who abused him in a “chaotic” upbringing which led him to a life of drugs and crime.
Wikaira had been involved with the gang for 12 years, the judge said.
The judge said Wikaira was trusted to handle large amounts of cash, and likely had a wide knowledge of the gang’s South Island operations.
The pre-sentence report said he had lived in Australia and New Zealand with his partner and two children, one of whom was a co-offender.
“You have been involved with the Comancheros for a long time.”
The judge said it was ironic the Comancheros offered Wikaira support in tackling his own addictions, while peddling drugs to others.
“You are embarrassed to be serving your first jail sentence at 43.
“You now realise the cost of your offending has outweighed the benefits.”
The judge said Wikaira was generally remorseful for his offending.
Time on electronic bail had allowed Wikaira to separate himself from the gang, although breaking those ties could be difficult, the judge said.
However, as a previous addict, Wikaira would have been aware of the trouble he inflicted on others, Justice Mander said.
“Your actions have caused your immediate family to suffer.”
Al Williams is an Open Justice reporter for the New Zealand Herald, based in Christchurch. He has worked in daily and community titles in New Zealand and overseas for the last 16 years. Most recently he was editor of the Hauraki-Coromandel Post, based in Whangamatā. He was previously deputy editor of the Cook Islands News.
