Father jailed for involvement in multimillion-dollar drug enterprise
Wednesday 23 September 2026 · 3 outlets · 2 reports · updated 
Lawrence Mervyn Olliver has been sentenced to six years and six months in prison at the Christchurch High Court. He completed 18 drug runs, transporting cocaine or methamphetamine between the North and South islands for a Comanchero operation involving his son.
Key facts
6 facts
- Lawrence Mervyn Olliver sentenced to six years and six months in prison
- Olliver completed 18 drug runs between January and August 2024
- The operation involved the Comanchero Motorcycle Club
- Olliver's son, Larenz Smith, is a Comanchero sergeant-at-arms
- The investigation was known as Operation Avon
- The operation resulted in 21 arrests
The full story
1 min read · 2 outlets
Lawrence Mervyn Olliver was sentenced to six years and six months in prison at the Christchurch High Court on Wednesday. He was convicted on 19 charges of supplying a Class A drug and one charge of participating in an organised criminal group.
Olliver completed 18 drug runs for the Comanchero Motorcycle Club between January and August 2024. During these trips, he moved at least 1kg of cocaine or methamphetamine per run between the South and North Islands.
The court heard Olliver acted in a misguided attempt to assist his son, Larenz Smith, a senior member of the Comancheros. Smith was previously imprisoned for ten years in July.
Olliver's involvement was part of Operation Avon, which resulted in 21 arrests. The investigation led to the seizure of millions of dollars, drugs, and firearms after the Christchurch Comancheros chapter was arrested in late August 2024.
Where reports differ
- One report states the operation involved 21 arrests, while another focuses on the arrest of the entire Christchurch Comancheros chapter
Compiled from reports by The Post and NZ Herald.
How they headlined it
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The Post via The Press
Also on The Press (opens in new tab)
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NZ Herald