Alleged Comancheros Matthew Douet, Samiu and Siaosi Tukuafu charged over alleged cocaine supply
Three alleged members of the Comanchero allegedly used encrypted devices and code names like ‘Glen20’ and ‘JDoe’ to sell cocaine across the Illawarra and South Coast.
Illawarra Star
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The secretary of the Comancheros South Coast chapter and two of the gang’s alleged associates have been arrested for allegedly selling huge amounts of cocaine following a federal police investigation.
Gang secretary Mathew Douet, and brothers Samiu and Siaosi Tukuafu, were charged on Friday morning with serious drug-related offences, after they were allegedly caught using encrypted devices and code names to facilitate drug deals.
Douet, 31, was charged with 42 drug supply charges, and two counts of knowingly deal in the proceeds of crime.
Alleged gang nominee Samiu, 19, was charged with four counts of supply prohibited drug, knowingly or recklessly direct criminal group assist crime, deal with property proceeds of crime, and supply prohibited drug.
His older brother Siaosi, an alleged gang associate, was charged with knowingly or recklessly direct criminal group assist crime, two counts of supply prohibited drug, two counts of deal with property proceeds of crime, supply prohibited drug (commercial quantity), and deal with proceeds of crime.
THE INVESTIGATION
In documents tendered to Wollongong Local Court on Friday, it was revealed the men first came under the notice of police through the AFP’s Operation Ironside.
Dubbed ‘the sting of the century’, Operation Ironside focused on an encrypted platform known as AN0M, which was run by law enforcement, and allowed them to see what criminals were planning in near real time.
The mobile phones were stripped of most other functions – they can’t make calls, look up maps, send emails or access internet.
AFP officers attached to Operation Ironside then raided homes across the nation in June.
Police swooped on Emmanuel Vamvoukakis, the Comanchero South Coast chapter’s alleged Sergeant at Arms, in a major operation at Mt Keira, after police allege he attempted to import cocaine into Australia via an offshore Greek associate.
In raids at a home on Harbour Boulevard in Shell Cove where Matthew Douet and Samiu and Siaosi Tufuaka lived together, police found five encrypted mobile phones allegedly linked to the trio.
Police claim Mr Douet used the handle ‘Glen20’, Samiu the handle ‘JDoe’ and Siaosi ‘Pillowcase123’.
In the documents police say several messages on the phone linked each of the men to the phones and GPS devices on the phone were consistent with the location of the property at Harbour Boulevard.
Following further inquiries, detectives from Criminal Groups Squad, with assistance from officers attached to Lake Illawarra Police District, executed two search warrants at homes in Albion Park and Dapto from on September 2, arresting the three men.
THE COMANCHEROS
Police allege Mr Douet established “a co-ordinated and extensive criminal network, by having direct control over the (Tukuafu brothers), assisted through affiliation with the Comancheros”.
In court, police alleged the Comanchero gang was “used to facilitate the alleged supply and ongoing protection of Mr Douet’s criminal network in the supply of drugs, enforcement of drug distribution territory, incidents of public acts of violence, including debt collection violence”.
Court documents state Mr Douet is on parole for unrelated offences until October this year and subject to requirements not to associate with any outlaw motorcycle gang members.
Messages sent from the encrypted device allegedly stated that Mr Douet was being careful about his alleged dealings with other club members.
“I am banned from even having it in my house (club gear),” one message read.
In another he said: “I don’t have anything and I won’t be wearing anything again … I’m going to get smarter for myself brother. Can’t let pride stand in the way of it all…”.
ALLEGED DRUG DEALING
In documents tendered to Wollongong Court, police allege Mr Douet purchased no less than 180 ounces, equating to 5.10kg, of cocaine on no less than 31 separate occasions from Vamvoukakis- who used the AN0M handle “Ice Cube”.
Police allege the deals took place between March 2020 and June 2021, and totalled more than $1.2 million.
Police allege Mr Douet on-supplied no less than 12 ounces of cocaine to Siaosi between March 2020 and June 2021 for no less than $109,000.
Samiu was allegedly directed by Mr Douet who supplied him with no less than 14 ounces of coke on four occasions, amounting to $71,000.
In the documents, police claim an ounce of cocaine could sell anywhere from $5500 to $7500, while kilo could sell from $150,000 to $230,000.
THE MESSAGES
Police allege that on Mr Douet’s encrypted device, he had 1957 messages to Mr Vamvoukakis, 298 messages between he and Siaosi 62 messages between he and Samiu.
In one exchange with Mr Vamvoukakis, police allege he and Mr Douet discussed their involvement and intention to strengthen the Comanchero presence in the south coast region to ensure the protection of drug running territory.
“Brother pls we need to build up a solid crew here … I need your help …. u got a brother there with u today that we can use in our team would kill for u n trustworthy … we need that its all going to sh*t here let’s build a good solid team brother I’m ready to get a crew again.”
Mr Vamvoukakis allegedly responded with “We need good boys from the hood, good solid boys no more nobodies or boys from other areas … it won’t work the days of having just riders are gone it feels like we are halfway chapter.”
COURT APPEARANCES
The matters for Mr Douet, Samiu and Siaosi all appeared in court on Friday after their overnight arrests.
Mr Douet did not appear via audiovisual link and his lawyer told the court he would not be applying for bail. His case was adjourned for eight weeks.
Despite police prosecutor Sergeant Ben Bragger arguing against Samiu release to bail, telling the court “drugs kill people, drugs injure people and for that reason there is a real community concern”, Magistrate Michael O’Brien granted strict bail, noting he was only 19 and had a limited criminal record.
As part of his bail, Samiu was forbidden from leaving his mum’s Worrigee home without her, was banned from drinking alcohol or taking drugs and from speaking to any of his co-accused and ordered not to leave home between 8pm and 8am.
His brother however, was refused bail despite his lawyer Analise Ritchie arguing for strict bail conditions.
Magistrate O’Brien said the charges against her client were too serious to warrant bail.
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