Police have launched sweeping raids targeting a notorious gang led by an imposing man who lived in east Auckland.
Investigators have worked alongside Customs, Corrections and Inland Revenue on an extensive three-year operation targeting the Comanchero Motorcycle Club and their operations, restraining millions of dollars’ worth of assets and properties from its members.
Police Commissioner Andrew Coster says 137 charges had been laid against the gang’s members and associates.
“It’s an exceptional outcome and shows the dedication of police investigators over the course of three years.”
Pasilika Naufahu, the president of the Comancheros, lived with his family in Bucklands Beach before being convicted and imprisoned on numerous charges in 2021.
A jury at the Auckland High Court found him guilty of one charge of conspiring to supply the class B controlled drug pseudoephedrine and two charges of money laundering.
He pleaded guilty to four more charges of money laundering, one charge of participating in an organised criminal group and being in unlawful possession of ammunition.
When Justice Graham Lang sentenced Naufahu, he said the gang leader became involved in a “sophisticated money laundering operation” using the services of a solicitor.
The money paid into the solicitor’s trust account through the scheme was about $1.2 million.
“These funds were then distributed in a manner that enabled you and other members of the group to obtain assets such as luxury vehicles,” the judge said.
Naufahu bought a Range Rover Sport vehicle for $195,000 and a Bentley Continental for $139,000.
Justice Lang said the most significant asset Naufahu acquired was a $1.388 million residential property in Bucklands Beach that he purchased as a home for himself and his family.
Justice Lang sentenced Naufahu to 10 years’ imprisonment on all charges. The Court of Appeal later reduced his sentence to nine years and three months in prison.
Since then, the gang leader has appeared before the Parole Board several times.
On the most recent occasion, its chairperson Sir Ron Young said, in a decision published online, a psychological report showed Naufahu continued to deny the drug dealing aspect of his convictions.
Sir Ron said Naufahu confirmed to the board he would continue to be involved in the gang, although he would obey any orders made by the Parole Board.
“He reiterated he was a family man and he put his family first.  We pointed out that appeared to conflict with the fact of his significant involvement in money laundering and conspiracy to supply drugs while he had the responsibility of young children.”
The Parole Board was satisfied Naufahu remained an “undue risk” and could not be released.
