Comanchero gang leader Pasilika Naufahu has been sentenced to 10 years in prison. New Zealand 'A changed man': Comanchero vice-president Tyson Daniels released from prison after money laundering $2.6 million worth of luxury cars By Jared Savage 27 Aug, 2022 11:40 AM 4 mins. one of the founding members of the New Zealand chapter in 2018 but was arrested a year later following a covert investigation, Operation Nova, which targeted the gang's criminal activity. In the recording, the man can be heard getting frustrated with Sha talking about a deal that he can make nearly half a million dollars from. NZ Police want leaders of King Cobras and the Rebels MC to start peace talks, Two men charged with the murder of NZ Outlaws leader Peter Lui, Comanchero MC in New Zealand: Presidents brother pleads guilty, Nomads MC national prez arrested over firearms and criminal group charges, Alleged Nomads leader refused bail over shootings charges after Canberra raids, DMCA Notice of Alleged Infringement and delivering it to our Designated Copyright Agent. Visit the #1 Biker Channel on YouTube and get straight up commentary on whats happening in the biker scene. 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. Est. Mr Naufahus resurrection of his gang affiliations and his resort to offending in Auckland was virtually guaranteed when he was deported to New Zealand.. The hairdresser, He Sha, was jailed in 2020 after he admitted crossing the Tasman to sell pseudoephedrine in a failed deal. The #1 Biker News Website Since 2011-Covering up to minute biker news including Outlaw Motorcycle Clubs & Biker News Worldwide. I thought you'd be happy to hear that.". You know the puakas get all my messages," the text read. 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. The gang boss was also found guilty, along with Connor Clausen, of conspiring to supply pseudoephedrine. In total, 18 people were arrested, with lawyer Andrew Simpson and the gangs vice-president Tyson Daniels jailed in 2019 for their part in the operation. Fonua, the gang's secretary was sentenced to four years and six months and drug runner Connor Clausen was jailed in December for three years and eight months. File photo. Pasilika Naufahu was jailed for his part in a drug and money laundering scheme. 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. 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. File photo. The media personality is charged with participating in an organised criminal group and two charges of money laundering including the purchase of two concrete pumps totalling $439,700. We are making these materials available in an effort for news reporting or educational purposes. The late admissions come shortly before the pair were due to stand trial at the High Court in September, along with other members of the club and their associates on charges laid in April 2019 following Operation Nova. Two days before Christmas, December 23, 2018, Rahman left New Zealand but not before receiving a backpack full of cash. The police investigation was into the supply of controlled drugs from the New Zealand chapter of the Comanchero Motorcycle Club. Naufahu had been a sergeant-at-arms for the Comancheros in Australia, where he had had a high level of involvement in the gang, together with his brother. Jurors are also sitting in front of plastic screens. The court heard Naufahu was a middle child of six children and the family had been under financial stress and hardship. Justice van Bohemen said Simpson was the facilitator of the money-laundering scheme, who used his specialist skills and knowledge as a lawyer. He was also found guilty, alongside patched Comanchero Connor Clausen, of conspiring to supply the Class B drug pseudoephedrine in September 2018. Naufahu moved to Australia when he was 1 year old and was deported when he was 28, Mansfield said. The trial is set down for four weeks in front of Justice Graham Lang and a jury. 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. All rights reserved. We believe this corresponds with a fair use of any such copyrighted material (referenced and provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law). 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. 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. However, that is a consequence of your decisions.". If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this. Clausen is charged with conspiring to supply class B drug pseudoephedrine. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features NFL Sunday Ticket Press Copyright . Two days before Christmas, December 23, 2018, Rahman left New Zealand but not before receiving a backpack full of cash. Video / NZ Herald. "You made it work. Justice Sally Fitzgerald convicted Naufahu of the three offences and scheduled a sentencing date of October 23, 2020, alongside his fellow . He said: Youre going to start off with a nice number with two zeroes. The president of the NZ chapter of the Comancheros, Pasilika Naufahu, started his trial standing alongside fellow gang member Connor Clausen, accountant Wiwini Hakaraia, as well as a media personality and a woman - who both have name suppression. 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. You set up the trusts and lent respectability, as a lawyer, to a criminal organisation.. 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 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.". I've banked those cheques about a 100,000 in Kiwi's one. The vice-president of the Comancheros says he is a "changed man" and plans to distance himself from his criminal associates now he has been released from prison, according to the Parole Board. A number of trusts were set up and various bank accounts were used to launder money to then purchase luxury cars and property. Comancheros gang president Pasilika Naufahu has sentence reduced Catrin Owen 12:24, Oct 05 2021 RICKY WILSON/STUFF Pasilika Naufahu was jailed for his part in a drug and money laundering. On Thursday, Detective Sergeant Damian Espinosa provided more details of surveillance of Naufahu in regards to the charges relating to conspiring to supply pseudoephedrine. More rain could further damage Central Hawke's Bay's rural roads, Comanchero gang leader Pasilika Naufahu jailed for 10 years, 'Largest ever' meth bust in NZ: Police, Customs seize 613kg of the drug, Comancheros-linked would-be drug courier jailed over failed deal, '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. The deal never went ahead. The Court of Appeal was satisfied the connection between the erosion of Naufahus Tongan cultural values and his offending. They will be sentenced on October 23. However, they still ruled the end sentence imposed was excessive and substituted the 10 years to one of nine years imprisonment. Simpson was jailed for two years and nine months after admitting laundering more than $2 million for Naufahu and the gang. This website may contain copyrighted material, the use of which may not have been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. This stabbing attack occurred as part of the Sydney Airport Brawl in 2009. Photo: Supplied, The Comancheros posted photographs on Instagram to announce the establishment of a New Zealand chapter. Tyson Daniels is the vice president of the Comanchero MC in New Zealand. "He accepted that he lived a high lifestyle, but he said he has now learned that reconnection with his culture and family is more important.". In July, a 60-year-old man who travelled to Mexico was sentenced to 16 years in prison after pleading guilty to four charges of importing a Class A drug after being identified in Operation Nova. Naufahu eventually found comradeship with gangs in Sydney and the Comancheros before being deported to New Zealand. Around the same time, a consignment of a kitchen stovetops shipped from the United States had been seized by Customs and examined. Jul 2019. At trial, Naufahu was found guilty of two charges of money laundering in relation to the purchase of a Bentley and a Ford Ranger. "I'm so honoured to be your son, you taught me how to be a man, you're a legend to this club. 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. He had also earlier. Defendants, jurors, counsel and media are all required to physically distance and wear masks in the courtroom. At the Court of Appeal, Ron Mansfield QC argued the statements made by a man who has name suppression, should have been ruled inadmissible because there was an absence of reasonable evidence that Naufahu was a member of the $1m conspiracy to supply pseudoephedrine. Despite this, Simpson was sentenced to two years and nine months in prison. Pasilika Naufahu is on trial for drug, money laundering and organised crime charges. Earlier this year,lawyer Andrew Simpson and Danielswere jailed for their involvement. On Tuesday, the Court of Appeal denied Naufahus appeal over the charge of conspiring to supply pseudoephedrine. The house was purchased with Naufahus 7-year-old son listed as the owner. A court has heard a Comanchero-associate drove through Auckland with a million dollars in cash to buy a methamphetamine prescursor, before the deal fell over. Not surprisingly he had sought out the company of others in the same situation, he said. All of these defendants contributed to his organised criminal group and helped it succeed until the police intervened in April 2019.. "Everything that I am today, I owe it all to you. After stopping at a cafe, the pair get back into the vehicle and the man can be heard telling Sha about how the area is one of the most policed areas in the country all gang squad. Photo: Michael Craig, A New Zealand chapter of the Comancheros gang was established in 2018 after members were deported from Australia. In July, a 60-year-old man who travelled to Mexico was sentenced to 16 years in prison after pleading guilty to four charges of importing a Class A drug after being identified in Operation Nova. You clearly knew the money was derived from significant importation of drugs.. The Vice President of Comanchero NZ released on parole Content Created by Grid Sparta Alleged Comancheros members accused of brazen Auckland attack keep names secret for now They have been jointly charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. Justice Sally Fitzgerald convicted Naufahu of the three offences and scheduled a sentencing date of October 23, 2020, alongside his fellow Comanchero Jarome Fonua. I'm on a big case over here.". Available from December 2. His wife and a number of supporters were present in court for Naufahu's sentencing on Friday. Shortly after, Sha talks with someone on the phone and tells the man your boss cancelled. Hakaraia offered cover as a professional service provider and businessman by reviewing the accounts of the concrete business, Johnstone said. more information Accept. 1 Dec, 2021 01:00 AM . 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. Vetekina Naufahu admitted the purchase of his late-model Range Rover worth $150,000 was money laundering. Others jailed by Operation NovaComancheros vice-president Tyson Daniels has already been sentenced to four years and eight months' imprisonment. "You were the president of the Comancheros" and as such were in a position of influence, Justice Lang said to Naufahu. "You clearly knew the money was derived from significant importation of drugs.". Vetekina Naufahu admitted to money laundering and possessing ecstasy, and is the latest Comanchero member to be sentenced after massive police raids in 2019. Pasilika Naufahu is on trial for drug, money laundering and organised crime charges. Est. I'll just have to wait for my time to come. Photo: Supplied, Tyson Daniels, in the gold Versace top, and Auckland lawyer Andrew Simpson at their sentencing hearing in February 2020. 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