A Comanchero gang member has been sentenced to nearly 15 years in prison after police seized 11kg of methamphetamine and over $670,000 in cash.
Sunia Mano To’ofohe, 45, was arrested in May 2023 during Operation Elusive, a police investigation targeting methamphetamine supply in Wellington. He was stopped at a Levin service station while returning from Auckland. A search of his vehicle uncovered 29 grams of methamphetamine, 5.9 grams of cocaine, 23 Oxycodone pills, and nearly $126,000 in cash.
A subsequent search of his Lower Hutt flat revealed approximately 11 kilograms of methamphetamine—enough to supply the Wellington region for over two months—along with $547,000 in cash, a Ruger rifle, 57 rounds of ammunition, and other drugs including LSD, GBL, 1-4 Butanediol, and cannabis.
In February, To’ofohe was found guilty on 14 of 15 charges, including possession of methamphetamine for supply, possession of other drugs for supply, illegal firearm possession, and supplying methamphetamine.
During sentencing, Justice Cheryl Gwyn acknowledged To’ofohe’s struggles with addiction and his desire to be present for his young children. However, she emphasised the scale of his offending, stating that his role in fueling the drug trade demanded a lengthy prison sentence.
The Comancheros have been linked to several major drug operations in New Zealand and the Pacific. In 2024, Tonga police disrupted an attempt by a deported Comanchero member to establish a local branch of the gang, seizing methamphetamine, firearms, and gang paraphernalia.
Law enforcement in the Pacific region continue their efforts to dismantle organised crime networks and curb the methamphetamine trade in the region.
