Arrests allegedly reveal plot to expand Comanchero South Coast Chapter

Police claim three major arrests have uncovered an alleged plan by a bikie gang to recruit members on the south coast - “good boys from the hood, good solid boys no more nobodies or boys from other areas”.

Police claim three major drug arrests have uncovered an alleged plan by a bikie gang to recruit members on the south coast.

The secretary of the Comancheros South Coast chapter and two of the gang’s alleged associates were arrested last week for allegedly selling huge amounts of cocaine, following a federal police investigation.

Encrypted text messages obtained by police allegedly revealed the local Comanchero gang was trying to bolster numbers in the Illawarra and South Coast to ensure the protection of drug running territory.

The three men were arrested on September 3 from two properties in the Illawarra.

Gang secretary Mathew Douet, and brothers Samiu and Siaosi Tufuaka were charged on September 3 with serious drug-related offences, after they were allegedly caught using encrypted devices and code names to facilitate drug deals.

Mr 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.

Police also swooped on Emmanuel Vamvoukakis, the Comanchero South Coast chapter’s alleged Sergeant at Arms, in a major operation at Mt Keira in June, after police allege he attempted to import cocaine into Australia via an offshore associate in Greece.

Accused Comanchero sergeant-at-arms Emmanuel Vamvoukakis. Picture: Facebook

After his arrest, police allege Mr Douet established “a co-ordinated and extensive criminal network, by having direct control over the (Tufuaku 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”.

Despite conditions of Mr Douet’s parole forbidding him from associating with any member of any outlaw motorcycle gang, its alleged he continued to do so through encrypted messaging.

In one encrypted exchange with Vamvoukakis, police allege he and Mr Douet discussed their involvement and intention to strengthen the Comancheros 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 … it’s all going to sh*t here, let’s build a good solid team brother I’m ready to get a crew again,” Mr Douet allegedly said.

“I think we need new boys on and keep pushing forward bro.”

An alleged senior Comanchero outlaw motorcycle gang member is one of three Illawarra men charged with supplying drugs across NSW. Picture: NSW Police

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.”

The texts also uncovered the motorcycle gang’s alleged methods of debt collection.

In a message to Mr Vamvoukakis, Mr Douet allegedly detailed his methods of receiving debts, with police claiming he threatened a man’s mother, allegedly threatening to torture her son in front of her.

“I told her I done this to f**kin help her n (and) told her it needs to be fixed or ill giver her address n stop protecting them,” Douet allegedly said to Mr Vamvoukakis in a message.

“I told her I’ll tie them up n (and) torture the kid in front of them coz I’m looking like a gronk coz of her f**k ups.”

Mr Douet, Mr Vamvoukakis and Siaosi remain on remand in custody, while Samiu was granted bail last Friday.