Youngest members of life-ruining ‘criminal enterprise’ first to be sentenced
Tuesday, 16 December 2025
The underlings of a “criminal enterprise” that peddled millions of dollars of life-ruining drugs across New Zealand are the first of the group to be sentenced.
Police last year arrested the entire Christchurch chapter of the Comancheros motorcycle gang, following an eight-month investigation into huge quantities of drugs and cash flowing between the North and South Island.
Now, the first of about 20 defendants accused of involvement in the network have been sentenced in the High Court at Christchurch.
The full machinations of the drug syndicate remain secret to protect fair trial rights, but Justice Cameron Mander on Tuesday revealed some details in sentencing two of its youngest members: Dementry Higgins and Kadyn Kelvin Wikaira.
The enterprise regularly transported Class A drugs from Auckland to Christchurch for distribution, the judge said. Cash proceeds were then collected and returned to Auckland.
At least 30kg of illicit substances were handled – approximately two-thirds methamphetamine and a third cocaine, Justice Mander said. Operation Avon, a seven-month police investigation into the syndicate, culminated with 21 arrests in August last year.
“Methamphetamine and cocaine ruins people’s lives,” the judge said, adding those with dependencies often experienced adverse mental health, broken relationships, and were motivated to commit crimes.
The court heard Higgins and Wikaira were the youngest members of the group, held “lesser roles” and were influenced by others. They began offending at age 20 and 17, respectively.
Higgins, a fitness trainer-turned-artificial intelligence entrepreneur, helped transport a suitcase containing $260,000 cash from Christchurch to Auckland, which someone else used to buy cocaine, Justice Mander said.
He also collected cash from drug distributions, delivered drugs to other members, and picked up a drug runner from the airport.
Justice Mander told Higgins he could genuinely turn his life around, and it appeared as though he wished to. He had not wasted his time while on electronically monitored bail, the judge noted of his entrepreneurial work.
“If you want to peddle harm and misery, as this gang does by dealing methamphetamine and cocaine, you will find yourself back here. The choice is yours.”
Higgins was granted significant discounts during his sentencing for his guilty plea and rehabilitative prospects. He was sentenced to a total of three years and two months’ imprisonment on four charges of supplying a Class A drug. A year’s jail for participating in an organised criminal group was to be served concurrently.
Later on Tuesday, Justice Mander outlined how Wikaira, now 19, had travelled to Dunedin with a co-defendant, with 15 ounces of methamphetamine. They waited in a hotel for three days for cash proceeds, at least $65,000 of which was returned to Christchurch.
After he was caught, Wikaira had abided by a strict curfew until his conditions were relaxed. The court heard he breached electronically monitored bail on 21 occasions, including by visiting a gas station and McDonald’s.
He had taken no responsibility in what Justice Mander noted was a “yawning lack of insight into the jeopardy you face” in being tied up with such serious drug offending.
“Your attitude to your current situation, I’m afraid – to me, anyway – appears to give little cause for hope,” Justice Mander said. “I sincerely hope you prove me wrong. And indeed, I urge you to do so.”
Wikaira was granted discounts for his clean criminal history and youth. Justice Mander said he was an “immature young man” and a term of imprisonment would risk “hardening” him, rather than rehabilitating him.
He was sentenced to nine months’ home detention on one charge of participating in an organised criminal group.
Relatives supported Higgins and Wikaira at their respective sentencing hearings from the public gallery.
Some of the others accused of involvement in the drug syndicate intend to defend their charges at trial next year.