New Zealand Police have targeted Comanchero members and associates as part of coordinated enforcement activity across Australasia targeting the gang's criminal operations.
Three men have been arrested, with items seized including an AR-15 rifle, cash and methamphetamine.
Taskforce Morpheus is a working group of law enforcement agencies across Australia and New Zealand that focus on the targeting and disruption of illegal activity by organised criminal groups.
Last week, the National Day of Action targeted the Comanchero Motorcycle Club, and saw nine Police districts carry out enforcement activity, supported by the National Organised Crime Group and the National Gang Unit.
Police charged three men who are members or associates of the gang and laid 14 charges for drugs and firearms offending.
In Tokoroa, Bay of Plenty staff searched three addresses with the assistance of the Armed Offenders Squad.
Five firearms, including an AR-15 rifle, were recovered along with cannabis and a kilogram of a substance believed to be methamphetamine.
Two men, aged 36 and 39, were arrested without incident during the warrants.
Around the country, Police also worked with the Department of Corrections given the number of members currently in custody.
Director of the National Organised Crime Group, Detective Superintendent Greg Williams says the Comancheros remain of interest to law enforcement agencies.
"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 says.
"They remain a focus for us, and through our investigative work we continue to find their members and associates involved in a large number of importations, alongside their propension for committing serious violence to maintain control over the market."
Police continue to work with law enforcement agencies in New Zealand and abroad to combat the Comanchero's influence globally.
"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," Detective Superintendent Williams says.
"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."
Director Prisoners of Extreme Risk Directorate, Jeanette Burns says a large number of cells were searched across six prisons in New Zealand.
"Across those prisons a large amount of tobacco was located, alongside quantities of suspected illicit drugs," says Jeanette.
"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."
