'Stronger and stronger' - Australia's most dangerous gang the Comancheros open New Zealand chapter

Police say it was "inevitable" the Comanchero gang would open a chapter in New Zealand after 14 patched members deported from Australia.

Musclebound and riding gold-plated motorcycles, Australia's most dangerous gang have made a bold statement about "growing stronger and stronger" in New Zealand.

There have been 14 patched members of the Comancheros - whose former president Mick Hawi (link is external) was gunned down in cold blood this week - deported to New Zealand under harsh immigration laws introduced in Australia.

They are among the hundreds of deportees, nicknamed "501s" because of the section of the immigration law created by Australian politician Peter Dutton, removed on "good character" grounds and sent to New Zealand where they were born.

For several years, the police have warned (link is external) of how these "Kiwis" - many of whom had lived in Australia for all their lives - would return to commit crimes and bolster the professionalism of the New Zealand underworld.

Chapters of other Australian motorcycle gangs, the Rebels (link is external) and the Bandidos (link is external), have been established in New Zealand for some time and involved in the lucrative drug industry.

But their bitter rivals, the Comanchero MC, have officially made their presence known in new photographs obtained by the Herald on Sunday. Police say the establishment of a New Zealand chapter of motorcycle gang, considered the most dangerous in Australia, is "concerning" and anticipate the Comancheros could cause friction with other gangs.

Wearing the black and gold colours of the outlaw club which state "Comanchero New Zealand, six members are standing beside, or sitting on, gold-plated motorcycles in a series of photographs posted on social media.

Patched members of the Comanchero gang from Australia have set up a chapter in New Zealand. Photo / Instagram

 

Patched members of the Comanchero gang from Australia have set up a chapter in New Zealand. Photo / Instagram.  

 

"All done and sworn in...welcome aboard to my brothers in New Zealand," says the Instagram post by an Australian member of the Comancheros.
"Another Comanchero chapter opened up. We growing stronger and stronger.


New Zealand - BN.