Young Comancheros drug couriers Dementry Higgins and Kayden Kelvin Wikaira sentenced

Dementry Higgins and Kayden Kelvin Wikaira were young associates of the Comancheros who got caught up in Operation Avon.

Two young men are the first of a group to face justice for involvement in a multi-million-dollar drug operation which resulted in the arrest of every patched member of the Christchurch chapter of the Comancheros.

Dementry Higgins and Kayden Kelvin Wikaira played roles in transporting and distributing large amounts of cash, cocaine and methamphetamine.

One was still in his teens and the other barely in his 20s when they both became entangled in Operation Avon.

It culminated in 21 arrests as police executed dozens of search warrants in the Christchurch area, with a handful in Auckland in August last year.

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.

Both men admitted taking part, with Higgins admitting four charges of supplying methamphetamine and one of participating in an organised criminal group.

Wikaira admitted participating in an organised criminal group.

The High Court in Christchurch heard Higgins was 20 and had a lesser role than most of the others when he acted under a senior member.

Justice Cameron Mander said the group transported at least 30kg of the drugs between Auckland and Christchurch.

Higgins was accompanied by at least one gang member during the delivery of cash and drugs.

Dementry Higgins

In August 2024 he used his email address to book return flights from Christchurch to Auckland.

He took $260,000 in a case from Christchurch to Auckland and bought cocaine which was delivered back to Christchurch.

In total he assisted in the distribution of 1.5kg of methamphetamine and cocaine around Christchurch and Timaru.

Justice Mander said his motivation was financial.

“You had some knowledge of the enterprise; you joined for some months for financial reward.”

The judge said he “cautiously” accepted that Higgins had severed ties with the Comancheros.

“If you want to peddle harm and misery as this gang does, you will find yourself back here.”

He sentenced Higgins to three years and two months’ jail.

Kadyn Wikaira

The court heard Wikaira’s involvement was also at the lower end of the scale.

He was 18 at the time and described as a drug supplier working under senior members.

The court heard Wikaira, 19, had breached his bail conditions 21 times.

“You contributed to the group and benefited from it; you are probably the least involved,” Justice Mander said.

In April last year Wikaira helped transport 18 ounces (510g) of methamphetamine from Christchurch to Dunedin and collected $65,000 which he took back to Christchurch.

“Those who peddle such drugs effectively trade on others’ misery, you need to ask yourself if you want to be part of that,” Justice Mander said to him.

“The striking feature is you have taken no responsibility for your involvement with the group.

“You do not appreciate the seriousness of your involvement.”

Justice Mander sentenced Wikaira to nine months of home detention.

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.