Law enforcement operation Taskforce Morpheus arrested three men associated with the Comancheros last week and seized a number of firearms. Photo / NZ Police
Law enforcement operation Taskforce Morpheus arrested three men associated with the Comancheros last week and seized a number of firearms. Photo / NZ Police
Police have arrested several Comanchero gang members after searching various Tokoroa properties as part of a larger operation to disrupt the organisation’s criminal activity in New Zealand.
Authorities seized five guns last week after a co-ordinated search of three different Tokoroa addresses affiliated with the motorcycle club.
The weapons includedan AR-15 rifle.
Police said 1kg of alleged methamphetamine and a quantity of cannabis was also recovered.
Three men who were Comancheros members or associates now face 14 charges for drug and firearm offending.
The National Organised Crime Group, the National Gang Unit, and nine police districts were involved in the raid, which was part of the National Day of Action.
National Organised Crime Group director Detective Superintendent Greg Williams said the Comancheros gang remains “a focus” for law enforcement.
“This gang is seen as one of the top organised crime groups in both Australia and New Zealand for their involvement in the importation and distribution of cocaine, methamphetamine and other illegal drugs,” he said.
The Morpheus Taskforce, a group of law enforcement agencies, has been working to disrupt the illegal activity of organisations like the Comancheros.
Members and associates of the gang are involved in a large number of importations and use “serious violence” to control the underground market.
Police confiscated five weapons, including an AR-15 rifle, from the properties. Photo / NZ Police
Williams said police are continuing to work with domestic and international law enforcement agencies to combat the gang’s global influence.
“We are focused on taking their influence out of New Zealand, and we have had many successes since the gang established operations here through Operations Nova and Embargo,” he said.
“Nearly all of the gang’s members and associates have been prosecuted, and this includes its entire senior leadership team that are all facing serious charges.”
Simultaneously, Corrections staff searched a large number of cells connected with the gang across six New Zealand prisons.
Prisoners of Extreme Risk Directorate director Jeanette Burns said suspected drugs and a large amount of tobacco were seized from prisoners.
“Some prisoners go to extreme and elaborate lengths to continue offending from prison. Our staff work hard to stop contraband entering our prisons, and when we do find it, we take this extremely seriously.
“Corrections does not tolerate any criminal behaviour in our prisons, and we continue to work with our partners to stamp out this offending and the harm it causes to our communities.”
