Every member of the Christchurch chapter of the Comancheros Motorcycle Club has been convicted following a seven month police investigation that dismantled a multimillion dollar drug trafficking operation stretching from Invercargill to Auckland.

A total of 29 people aged between 18 and 55 were arrested and charged with a range of drug offences during Operation Avon. All have now been convicted.

The investigation was led by the National Organised Crime Group and the Asset Recovery Unit, with support from Canterbury Police. It culminated in search warrants being executed across the country in August 2024.

Police seized about 5kg of Class A drugs, 11 firearms, ammunition and more than $250,000 in cash.

More than $1.9 million in assets was also restrained, including an Auckland property and 11 vehicles.

A related investigation, Operation Leith, identified another eight people involved in criminal activity across the southern South Island.

Police made the Christchurch chapter a priority target because of its significant involvement in drug distribution and money laundering across New Zealand.

Acting Detective Inspector Phil Sparks said investigators quickly uncovered large scale offending involving methamphetamine, cocaine and extensive money laundering.

“Class A drugs cause immense harm in our communities,” Sparks said.

“Organised criminal groups profit from that harm, accumulating cash, property and valuable assets while showing no regard for the devastation caused to individuals and families.”

The gang coordinated the movement of drugs and cash between Auckland and Christchurch every few weeks, with drugs distributed throughout the South Island as far south as Invercargill.

Sparks said drugs worth more than $1 million at wholesale value were trafficked between the North and South Islands. Police estimated their street value at about $15 million.

“This operation has significantly disrupted the Comancheros’ ability to establish and maintain a foothold in Canterbury and has had a major impact on the drug supply chain across New Zealand,” Sparks said.

He said the conviction of every Christchurch chapter member had effectively ended the gang’s presence in the city and significantly weakened its influence across the wider South Island.

The restraint of cash and other criminal assets had also damaged the group’s ability to regroup, rebuild its drug supply networks and continue offending, Sparks said.