Police in Tonga say an alleged Comancheros gang member deported from Australia was behind moves to establish the outlaw motorcycle group in the Pacific Island — an attempt they say was disrupted in a drug bust this month.
Tonga police say a deportee from Australia tried to establish a local branch of the Comancheros outlaw motorcycle group in the Pacific Island nation.
Tonga Police Commissioner Shane McLennan said police began an operation targeting the Comancheros when a "patched" member was deported from Australia to Tonga in October 2022. Tonga's drugs squad also seized methamphetamines weighing 3.5 kilograms, vehicles, cash, and cash counting machines in a later raid on August 13-14.In a statement on Monday, Tonga police said the outlaw motorcycle group had grown its presence in Tonga and was involved in illegal activities."We're very confident that we will be able to shut the gang down," he said.
According to court records, Taumoefolau was born in Tonga and his family came to Australia in 1989 when he was seven or eight years old.In 2009 he was sentenced to three years' jail for supplying a commercial quantity of a prohibited drug and supplying cannabis. "Australia and New Zealand's prolific and high-profile organised crime networks — including outlaw motorcycle gangs — have expanded their activities offshore and into the Pacific," the 2022 report said.
"We have seen outlaw motorcycle gang activity in the region at a smaller scale, in Fiji and the Cook Islands. But the Comancheros are definitely new players in the region and they're coming in with a lot greater intent and larger plans."
Methamphetamines Pacific Drug Trade Pacific Drug Highway Comancheros Bikie Gangs Australia Deportations To Tonga Australia Deporting Criminals
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Australia news LIVE: Australia’s largest solar farm approved; ‘Ghost colleges’ shut in tertiary education blitzKeep up to date with today’s news.
Read more »
Australia news LIVE: Australia’s largest solar farm approved; ‘Ghost colleges’ shut in tertiary education blitzKeep up to date with today’s news.
Read more »
Australia news LIVE: Australia’s largest solar farm approved; ‘Ghost colleges’ shut in tertiary education blitzKeep up to date with today’s news.
Read more »
Australia inflation: Reserve Bank of Australia says growth resurgence to keep interest rates higher for longerThe RBA said it considered lifting the cash rate to 4.6 per cent this month amid concerns of a forecast lift in economic growth and persistently high inflation.
Read more »
Australia news LIVE: London stabbing victim from Australia; Dutton defends Gaza stanceRead the national news headlines for Thursday, August 15.
Read more »
Australia news LIVE: London stabbing victim from Australia; Dutton defends Gaza stanceRead the national news headlines for Thursday, August 15.
Read more »