Concern over new Comanchero gang chapter in New Zealand

  • 30/12/2017
Comanchero gang patch
Comanchero gang patch. Photo credit: Getty.

The arrival of what appears to be a new biker gang in New Zealand is causing concern in local communities.

The Comanchero Motorcycle Club was formed in Sydney in 1968 - its name was inspired by a John Wayne movie - and also has chapters in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Spain.  

But a posting on the 'Gangs of New Zealand' Facebook page suggests the Comancheros have now spread across the Tasman.

"Comanchero New Zealand, making moves here in Aotearoa, respect," says the post, which features a photo of Comanchero New Zealand branding.

Manukau Ward Councillor Efeso Collins says there are too many unanswered questions about their presence, but hopes police will nip the issue in the bud.

"We don't know how they act, we don't know what they're connected to or what they're associated with back in Australia," he says.

"Australia's done the awful thing of just sending them back to New Zealand."

Earlier this year, Police Association president Chris Cahill said NZ-born criminals were bringing some of their unwanted business with them, when deported from Australia.

"We're getting some key Australian gang figures from big gangs like the Comancheros and Bandidos," he told NZME.

"They're able to add a level of professionalisation to those gangs that we haven't seen before."

Mr Collins says there is no support for deportees being sent back across the ditch.

"[The police] will need to get beside local community leaders and say 'What can we do to make sure that this gang doesn't find itself being established here?'"

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