Naufahu was arrested following a series of raids across Auckland in April 2019, in which more than $3.7 million in assets was seized along with luxury cars, motorbikes, high-end luggage and jewellery. Comancheros vice-president Tyson Daniels has already been sentenced to four years and eight months' imprisonment. The Comancheros are participants in the United Motorcycle Council of NSW, which convened a conference in 2009 to address legislation aimed against the "bikie" clubs, their poor public image in the wake of several violent clashes and ongoing biker wars, and defusing deadly feuds such as the Comancheros' battles with the Hells Angels. If you wish to use any copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond fair use, you must obtain expressed permission from the copyright owner. The haul was worth about $20m. #gridsparta #comancheroFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/GridSpartaInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/gridspartaWe'd love you to submit your videos for pub. "I deeply regret a father being separated from his family. Naufahu was arrested as a part of a covert police investigation called Operation Nova that targeted the Comanchero Motorcycle Club. He told them Naufahu arrived in New Zealand from Australia in early 2016 and quickly went about establishing the New Zealand chapter of the Comancheros. Photo: RNZ / Dan Cook. A senior Comanchero gang member has admitted charges of money laundering and participating in an organised criminal group, just weeks before his trial was due to start. Payments were also made by Hakaraia to Comanchero vice president Tyson Daniels to buy another new Range Rover. Young said the board was confident the programme recommended was the appropriate risk-based treatment for him and hoped he would undertake it with an open mind. Australian hairdresserHe Sha was jailed earlier this yearafter he admitted crossing the Tasman to sell pseudoephedrine. He had also earlier pleaded guilty to participating in an organised criminal group and money laundering in relation to a $1.3 million home and expensive cars. The High Court judge detailed how Naufahu's family had moved to Australia when he was only one, and they struggled under financial hardship. The gang was joined by others whose skills and attributes helped the flow of financial rewards, the court heard. On Monday afternoon, Crown prosecutor David Johnstone opened the case to the jury. The president of the Comanchero Motorcycle Club has had a year knocked off his jail term. Once in New Zealand, the police allege the drugs were distributed by frontmen for the Comanchero, whose hierarchy allegedly reaped the rewards of the illicit trade. Daniels was sentenced to four years and eight months after he pleaded guilty to participating in an organised criminal group and nine counts of money laundering. Vetekina Naufahu joins two other senior members of the Comanchero motorcycle club in admitting charges of money laundering and participating in an organised criminal group following the covert police investigation Operation Nova. Since then, however, Daniels has been a model prisoner. Most updated Motorcycle community news from all the World, Motorcycle Clubs news, 1%er news. He said: Youre going to start off with a nice number with two zeroes. Naufahu continued to deny his involvement in drug dealing and confirmed he would continue to be involved in the gang, although he claimed he would obey any orders made by the Parole Board. The president of the Comanchero Motorcycle Club president Pasilika Naufahu came to New Zealand in 2016 and went about setting up the gang for monetary gain while those around him enjoyed the benefits, the Crown say. I've banked those cheques about a 100,000 in Kiwi's one. In New Zealand, time is the business, if you f time, you never make money in this business, the man says. New Zealand chapter president Pasilika Naufahu, vice-president Tyson Daniels and Jarome Fonua today entered guilty pleas to an amended joint charge of assault after punching a man . The president of the Comanchero Motorcycle Club president Pasilika Naufahu came to New Zealand in 2016 and went about setting up the gang for monetary gain while those around him enjoyed the benefits, the Crown say. The Crown said Naufahu told one person to download 'Signal', an encrypted messaging app, and discusses with his brother about getting their father to use it. At trial, the Crown said Naufahu was the source of $1m which was meant to be used to purchase pseudoephedrine, but the suppliers withdrew. The cheap wholesale price of $120,000 per kilogram was agreed to by both parties, in a deal the police believed would weigh at least 100kg ("a nice number with two zeros"). But months later those colours had run and Jesse Vella had joined the Rebels' rivals the Comancheros. If you are a copyright owner or are authorized to act on behalf of one or authorized to act under any exclusive right under copyright, please report alleged copyright infringements taking place on or through the site by completing the DMCA Notice of Alleged Infringement and delivering it to our Designated Copyright Agent. The reality was that [the media personality] was running [the concreting business] for the joint benefit for himself and the organised criminal group, Johnstone said. A video, taken by police, was played at trial showing the brother of a man who the Crown says is at the heart of the case and an Australian hairdresser meeting with Clausen. Twitch is the world's leading video platform and community for gamers. Insane Throttle Support Club Become a member Now, Insane Throttle/Motorcycle Madhouse Radio YouTube and Audio Disclaimer, Meet the Insane Throttle Contributing Columnist James Hollywood Macecari, Motorcycle Clubs Riding Clubs and Associations Near Me Index & Listings, Our Policies here at Insane Throttle Publications. But the police allege the Comanchero, an Australian motorcycle club which set up shop in New Zealand after a number of senior members were deported here, are behind significant drug smuggling linked to a Mexican cartel. Naufahu, who lived. Seiana Fakaosilea, the gang's sergeant-at-arms, was not arrested in Operation Nova. The true source of the money was a secret and the group had to use a range of tactics to pretend the source was legitimate, the Crown said. Connor Clausen had his conviction appeal dismissed. The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. Ahead of the trial, another two gang members Jarome Fonua and Vetekina Naufahu also pleaded guilty. If you wish to use any copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond fair use, you must obtain expressed permission from the copyright owner. The Comanchero members and associates were arrested in April 2019 after a massive police search. Last week, the clubs treasurer Fonua also pleaded guilty to money laundering and participating in an organised criminal group. Over the course of three years, more than a million dollars was deposited and withdrawn. Tallat Rahman, from Suva, was arrested in February 2019 in the first phase of the inquiry, which discovered how parcels of methamphetamine weighing up to 5kg were hidden inside kitchen appliances shipped from the United States. He was "surprised" to be deported given his imprisonment in Australia had been in short stints. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this. Despite this, Simpson was sentenced to two years and nine months in prison. You clearly knew the money was derived from significant importation of drugs.. Pasilika Naufahu appeared before the Parole Board on 12 September, and was again refused early release after he first became eligible for parole on 11 May. The hairdresser, He Sha, was jailed in 2020 after he admitted crossing the Tasman to sell pseudoephedrine in a failed deal. When you work carefully through the glimpse of reality behind the secrets and pretending, the picture is perfectly clear, Johnstone said. "I can't wait to see you again dad. The Comanchero Motorcycle Club New Zealand president feared he was about to be arrested eight months before a major police bust and also suspected police were bugging his phone, a jury has been told. The call was made in Mexico and the caller was identified as Rahman; a Fijian-Indian who lived in Suva, who had dual Canadian citizenship and travelled regularly to Mexico and the United States. A number of trusts were set up and various bank accounts were used to launder money to then purchase luxury cars and property. When brought in for questioning by police, Rahman claimed to be in New Zealand on holiday. The poaching is seen as a power move by Meehan, who only recently took over as President after former boss Mick Murray was arrested in April over a 2019 murder. Intercepted communications and video taken by police showed the man and Naufahu meeting, but Mansfield QC argued the meetings involved money laundering and not pseudoephedrine. Others jailed by Operation NovaComancheros vice-president Tyson Daniels has already been sentenced to four years and eight months' imprisonment. Speaking to other mourners at Gino Vella's January funeral, he proudly wore the Rebels patch - the mark of a gang that his father "paved the way" for - and declared "Rebels Forever, Forever Rebels.". Rahman was unknown to the team of detectives running Operation Nova until he was overheard talking to one of the frontmen, who cannot be named for legal reasons, whose phone conversations were bugged by police. Video / Mike Scott. The Vice President of Comanchero NZ released on parole Content Created by Grid Sparta Intercepted communications from September 20, 2018, from an audio device fitted in a vehicle were played to the jury on Thursday. Comanchero gang leader Pasilika Naufahu has been sentenced to 10 years in prison. Tyson Daniels is the vice president of the Comanchero MC in New Zealand. Pasilika Naufahu was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment by Justice Graham Lang on Friday at the High Court at Auckland. The word puakas was translated by police as 'pigs'. The pair parted ways before the man made various stops and took photos of his car before he was observed meeting up with Sha and the pair also made multiple stops around the city. One Saturday morning in August 2018 - months before the April 2019 raid - a person who police say is Naufahu's father, sends him a text. Two days before Christmas, December 23, 2018, Rahman left New Zealand but not before receiving a backpack full of cash. Naufahu has denied conspiring to import a class A drug, conspiring to supply class B drug pseudoephedrine and three charges of money laundering, namely using $212,796.96 towards purchasing a Bentley, Ford Ranger and a concrete pump. Photo / Supplied In sentencing Daniels - who was wearing a black and gold Versace top - to four years and eight months. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this. The trial of five people linked to the Comancheros gang has been told how close a large drug deal came to being completed in the Auckland suburb of Takanini. Justice van Bohemen said Simpson was the facilitator of the money-laundering scheme, who used his specialist skills and knowledge as a lawyer. 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Around the same time, a consignment of a kitchen stovetops shipped from the United States had been seized by Customs and examined. Mick Hawi was a former Comanchero MC President. Jul 2019. Earlier this year,lawyer Andrew Simpson and Danielswere jailed for their involvement. Justice Lang said despite Naufahu steadfastly denying being involved in drug dealing, his conviction was useful insight in to the modus operandi of the gang. Rahman was unknown to the team of detectives running Operation Nova until he was overheard talking to one of the "frontmen", who cannot be named for legal reasons, whose phone conversations were bugged by police. The #1 Biker News Website Since 2011-Covering up to minute biker news including Outlaw Motorcycle Clubs & Biker News Worldwide. He had difficulty obtaining a bank account, accommodation and employment, he said. Defence lawyer Ron Mansfield said Naufahu had been deported from Australia as a 501, arriving here with no support network in place. In response, police launched Operation Nova, eventually terminated in April 2019 when most of the Comancheros' hierarchy were arrested and charged with money laundering and participating in an organised criminal group. "Wait until you see me then talk to me. Everything went quiet until Rahman flew into Auckland International Airport on December 18, 2018, and checked into a hotel on Queen St, the Four Points by Sheraton. No more games there is more than a million dollars coming. In sentencing Daniels who was wearing a Versace top in Comanchero colours of black and gold to four years and eight months in prison, Justice Gerard van Bohemen said the senior club member played a crucial role overseeing the clubs operations for significant personal gain. One of the Comanchero members pictured is Pasilika Naufahu, once a senior member of the gang in Sydney, who was deported two years ago, according to the New Zealand Herald. "The idea of him as a supportive father and husband is completely inconsistent with his desire to continue on in the Comancheros gang and the prospect of further offending if released.". He had strong support from his wife and sister and had also completed Saili Matagi, a rehabilitation programme tailored for inmates of Pasifika heritage. A trial involving laundering and drug charges against Comanchero president Pasilika Naufahu, Connor Michael Tamati Clausen, accountant Wiwini Himi Hakaraia, a media personality who has name suppression, and a woman also with name suppression is in its third week at the High Court at Auckland. Justice van Bohemen said Simpson was the facilitator of the money-laundering scheme, who used his specialist skills and knowledge as a lawyer. He had a number of convictions in Australia, including for violence. In August,club treasurer Jarome FonuaandVetekinaadmitted their parts in the operation. "You clearly knew that the money was derived from a significant drug importation and supply operation by the group of which you are a member," Justice van Bohemen told Daniels in February 2020. Later, another recording includes the Comancheros president talking to a bank operator over the phone to apply for a credit card. Justice Lang accepted the offending was bought about to ensure his family did not suffer the same financial hardship he had growing up. And it came just days after "Mick" Hawi, the former national president of the Comancheros in Australia, was fatally gunned down in a Sydney gym carpark, by two masked men in broad daylight. "It's hard to accept the fact, you left us so soon. Young said the board was convinced Naufahu remained an undue risk and could not be released. But another thing the success of the group bought with it was a problem, the problem was how to hide the crimes that were generating all the money, Johnstone said. More than $1.2m in cash was deposited into Simpsons trust account at his law practice, which was also used to purchase some of the cars belonging to Daniels and allegedly others in the club, as well as real estate such as a $1.3m home in Auckland. Earlier this month Naufahu admitted participating in an organised criminal group, four charges of money laundering and being in possession of ammunition. Not surprisingly he had sought out the company of others in the same situation, he said. Naufahu, however, believed he had been treated seriously unfairly and he would not be transferred to another prison to complete the programme. Poverty requires same urgency as Covid-19 - Wellington City Mission, Comancheros boss goes on trial on drug, money laundering charges, Comancheros gang boss goes on trial on drug and money laundering charges, Comancheros trial: $1m drug deal fell through moments from completion, court told, Police listened to gang's calls for months before raid, court told, Comancheros trial: Police listened to gang's calls for months before raid, court told, 'We have land that is build-ready': Housing minister considers temporary Hawke's Bay villages, Prolific 'pork' tag appears in Auckland 1000 times in just over one year, Immigration declines residency visa for family of much-needed Wairoa nurse, Some freight railway lines will remain closed for months due to Cyclone Gabrielle damage - KiwiRail. All rights reserved. "He is intelligent. Clausen is charged with conspiring to supply class B drug pseudoephedrine. Naufahu previously admitted participating in an organised criminal group, unlawful possession of ammunition and four charges of money laundering, in relation to the purchase of his Bucklands Beach house. Earlier in the case the Crown said that company was used to pay "pretend" salaries to Comancheros members to conceal the true source of the gang's wealth. Shortly after the man and Naufahu were seen by police sitting in the Howick Village Cafe. A number of luxury vehicles were seized in the 2019 police raid. The gang boss was also found guilty, along with Connor Clausen, of conspiring to supply pseudoephedrine. Vetekina Naufahu admitted to money laundering and possessing ecstasy, and is the latest Comanchero member to be sentenced after massive police raids in 2019. More than 80 police officers were involved in the raids, which led to about $4 million of assets being seized, including firearms and several luxury vehicles such as a Rolls-Royce Wraith and gold-plated Harley-Davidson motorcycles. Gang president Pasilika Naufahu was among those put behind bars, sentenced to 10 years' jail after being found guilty of conspiracy to supply the Class B drug pseudoephedrine. An outlaw motorcycle club is a motorcycle subculture.It is generally centered on the use of cruiser motorcycles, particularly Harley-Davidsons and choppers, and a set of ideals that purport to celebrate freedom, nonconformity to mainstream culture, and loyalty to the biker group.. Comanchero Motorcycle Gang members have been arrested in Auckland. Topics Selection,Research, Editing, Correction Policy and Ethics, A MONGOL who survived a bullet to the brain in an alleged attempted hit by two rival Finks gunmen says he has little memory of the attack. Clausen also admitted being in possession of a pistol and ammunition and a pump-action shotgun and shells. The haul was worth about $20m. Photo: Supplied, Connor Clausen during the first day of the Operation Nova trial at the High Court in Auckland. For Vella, forever lasted until last week, when he posed in Comancheros colours with their new President Alex Meehan. You know the puakas get all my messages," the text read. He said he is paid $2200 a week before tax - the equivalent of $114,000 a year - by a company which was run by another defendant, who has name suppression. STUFF Intercepted communications between a man and an Australian hairdresser who allegedly orchestrated a $1 million drug deal of pseudoephedrine for the Comanchero MC president have been played in court. A senior Comanchero MC member has admitted charges of money laundering and participating in an organised criminal group, just weeks before his trial was due to start. This (is) that new s***," Meehan wrote in the Instagram post announcing the switch which saw the pair posed in with a motorcycle and the Comanchero insignia. He was convicted of the murder of Hells Angels MC Anthony Zervas. After a lengthy and high-profile jury trial last year, Naufahu was found guilty of two money-laundering charges - one in respect of a Ford Ranger and the other a $102,075 Bentley. The jury trial at the High Court is the first one to be held under the current enhancedCovid-19 alert level 2.5in Auckland. The Crown has opened its case against Comancheros gang boss Pasilika Naufahu on drug and money laundering charges. Naufahu - whose brother Pasilika is the president of the New Zealand chapter of the Australian motorcycle gang - also pleaded guilty to possession of MDMA, or Ecstasy, which is a Class-B controlled drug. The call was made in Mexico and the caller was identified as Rahman; a Fijian-Indian who lived in Suva, who had dual Canadian citizenship and travelled regularly to Mexico and the United States. The Comancheros New Zealand president and two other senior gang members will spend a further three months behind bars after pleading guilty to assaulting a prisoner. If you are a copyright owner or are authorized to act on behalf of one or authorized to act under any exclusive right under copyright, please report alleged copyright infringements taking place on or through the site by completing the DMCA Notice of Alleged Infringement and delivering it to our Designated Copyright Agent. Shortly after, Sha talks with someone on the phone and tells the man your boss cancelled. They dont want to arrive if the pseudo is not here, the man replies. Jurors have been told intercepted calls show coded conversations, discussion of hundreds of thousands of dollars and a suspicion that police had tapped mobile phones. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features NFL Sunday Ticket Press Copyright . Pasilika Naufahu is on trial for drug, money laundering and organised crime charges. Copyright Star Media Network 2019. He had admitted participating in an organised criminal group and nine money laundering charges which came from purchasing a swag of expensive vehicles. Members made a splash in 2018 with social media posts of black and gold-clad members gathered around gold-plated motorcycles. The Comanchero Motorcycle Club president told the board he had done everything he possibly could in prison to show he was a responsible citizen. Naufahu was arrested following a series of raids across Auckland in April 2019 in which more than $3.7 million in assets was seized, along with luxury cars, motorbikes, high-end luggage and jewellery. "Dad I wrote this for you, with a heavy heart, holding your reading glasses, listening to roadhouse blues. Comanchero Motorcycle Club president Pasilika Naufahu has been denied parole for a second time in four months. Thieves get their hands dirty on building sites, what the Governments latest Kiwibuild changes could mean for you, and a female officer knocked out in a vicious attack in the latest New Zealand Herald headlines. The Australian motorcycle gang established a chapter in New Zealand after 14 members were deported as so-called "501s", in reference to the section of Australia's immigration law used to revoke visas on "character" grounds. The 501 scheme is the the character section of the Australian Migration Act that allows the cancellation of visas. Gang president Pasilika Naufahu was among those put behind bars, sentenced to 10 years' jail after being found guilty of conspiracy to supply the Class B drug pseudoephedrine. He was released from prison this week after the Parole Board decided he was no longer an "undue risk" to the public. The Comancheros gang was founded in Sydney in the 1960s and has been growing in size and influence in New Zealand in recent years. "Everything that I am today, I owe it all to you. "You were the president of the Comancheros" and as such were in a position of influence, Justice Lang said to Naufahu. In one, lawyer Andrew Simpson - already convicted and jailed for money laundering - tells another man that he can tell "the boys" a $100,000 cheque has landed. Red Cross Cyclone Gabrielle fund: Where will donations go? In the absence of his colleagues, the 20-year-old was promoted as the acting "commander" until his arrest in another covert investigation, Operation Cincinnati, in late 2020. "We still had many more memories to make, we still had so much more to do. There was nearly 5kg of methamphetamine inside. Photo: Supplied, The Comancheros posted photographs on Instagram to announce the establishment of a New Zealand chapter.

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