Two young Comancheros couriers sentenced as Operation Avon dismantles Christchurch drug network

#gridsparta #bikies #comancheromc Two young men linked to the Christchurch chapter of the Comancheros motorcycle club have become the first people sentenced after a major police operation shut down the group’s drug network. Dementry Higgins and Kayden Wikaira were involved in moving drugs and cash around the country as part of Operation Avon. Both were very young at the time, with one still a teenager and the other in his early twenties when they became involved. The eight month investigation ended in August 2024 with 21 arrests. Police carried out dozens of search warrants across Christchurch and several in Auckland. Every patched member of the Christchurch Comancheros chapter was arrested. Police began focusing on the chapter in early 2024 after identifying it as a key player in nationwide drug offending. The operation was led by the National Organised Crime Group with support from Canterbury Police. Higgins admitted supplying methamphetamine on four occasions and being part of an organised criminal group. The High Court heard he had a lesser role and acted under instructions from senior members. He helped move drugs and large amounts of cash between Christchurch and Auckland, including transporting $260,000 to buy cocaine. In total, he assisted in distributing about 1.5kg of methamphetamine and cocaine in Christchurch and Timaru. Justice Cameron Mander said the wider group transported at least 30kg of drugs between Auckland and Christchurch. He accepted Higgins was motivated by money and cautiously accepted he had cut ties with the club. Higgins was sentenced to three years and two months in prison. Wikaira also admitted being part of an organised criminal group. His role was described as low level, working under senior members. However, he breached his bail conditions 21 times. In one instance, he helped transport more than 500g of methamphetamine from Christchurch to Dunedin and returned with $65,000 in cash. Justice Mander said Wikaira had benefited from the group but failed to take responsibility or understand the seriousness of his actions. He was sentenced to nine months of home detention. Operation Avon resulted in the seizure of millions of dollars’ worth of drugs. Police executed about 70 warrants during the investigation, including 29 on addresses and more than 40 on vehicles, mainly in Christchurch with some in Auckland. Around 5kg of class A drugs were seized, along with 11 firearms, ammunition, and about $250,000 in cash. Police also restrained $1.9 million in assets, including an Auckland property and 11 vehicles. These sentences are the first court outcomes from Operation Avon, with more cases still to come. Follow Grid Sparta on Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/GridSparta Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GridSparta Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/GridSparta Reditt: https://www.reddit.com/r/Gridsparta