Strike Force Garlow: Warren Paul Ryan pleads guilty over 10kg `ice’ lab at Kulnura and police pursuit

A Catherine Hill Bay man who rented a shed from a property owner in Kulnura to “store tools” turned the shed into an “ice” manufacturing laboratory. Read what happened when police tracked him down.

A Catherine Hill Bay man told the owner of a Kulnura property that he wanted to rent their shed to store tools while he converted a bus into a motor home.

Months later the owners noticed a “horrible smell” coming from the shed and police uncovered a large clandestine lab, seizing 10kg of “ice” and 20kg of precursor chemicals.

Warren Paul Ryan’s matter was mentioned at Wyong Local Court on Tuesday where his defence lawyer entered pleas of guilty to manufacturing methylamphetamine, not less than 10kg, between July and September 2021 and using an offensive weapon in company to prevent detention.

Organised Crime Squad found 10kg of ice at the Kulnura lab. Picture: NSW Police

Items seized at the Kulnura shed. Picture: NSW Police

Police images show what was found at the shed in Kulnura. Picture: NSW Police

The matter will go before Gosford District Court for sentence with further charges of police pursuit and not complying with a Covid-19 order to be taken into account. A charge of supply prohibited drug was withdrawn.

The co-accused Anthony Anderson’s matter was also mentioned on Tuesday, however was adjourned with no pleas entered.

An agreed set of facts tendered to the court state that NSW Police’s Strike Force Garlow was established to investigate the supply and manufacture of prohibited drugs with both Ryan, 48, and Anderson, 36, under surveillance.

The facts say that in late 2021 Ryan went to the front gate of a Parana Rd property in Kulnura to ask about leasing a shed to store tools while he renovated a bus into a motor home.

One man has pleaded guilty over manufacturing methylamphetamine. Picture: NSW Police

He returned in the new year offering $200 a week and the owners agreed.

The facts say that the owners recall the men “coming and going at random times of the day and night” and later discovered a “horrible smell emanating from the shed” which remained padlocked.

Surveillance of the Ryan and Anderson’s presence at the shed was monitored and police carried out a “covert” search on September 7 uncovering “an active clandestine lab” with large stainless steel reaction vessels, condensers, chemical drums, prohibited glassware and “white sludge” in drying trays later identified as methylamphetamine.

Police made the decision to leave the shed due to safety concerns and continue to monitor the men.

Later that afternoon, police followed Ryan and Anderson from the shed to a house in Burns Rd Ourimbah, with Ryan driving them in a Toyota Kluger.

A look inside the lab. Picture: NSW Police

Some of the equipment located in the lab. Picture: NSW Police

Police surrounded the vehicle and when an officer got out, Ryan reversed and rammed an unmarked police car. Another officer who was standing outside the vehicle was injured when he was squashed between the door and door frame.

The facts state that Ryan rammed a second police car before driving off and a short pursuit was initiated.

The facts say the Kluger travelled 80km in a 50km zone before colliding with a concrete divider and both men ran off.

Ryan was located in a nearby pond while Anderson was found in bushland before both men were arrested.

When asked about the pursuit, Ryan told officers he didn’t know they were police.

10kg of ice was found at the lab in different forms. Picture: NSW Police

The shed in Kulnura was declared a crime scene with NSW Fire and Rescue HAZMAT called in to ensure the site was safe before the Chemical Operations Unit took over.

It took six days for the lab to be dismantled and investigations to be conducted at the site.

The facts say that 5345.7g of pure methylamphetamine was found in the lab in different forms along with 1684.8g of phenyl-2-propanone which is a chemical used in the manufacturing of the drug.

There was also five tonnes of liquid waste and other chemicals used in the manufacturing process.

Ryan’s DNA was found on items in the shed including a diary with instructions on how to manufacture drugs.

The lab was located on Parana Rd in Kulnura.

A search warrant of Ryan’s Catherine Hill Bay house also found a tall glass with a white crystal substance in his ensuite as well as a glass pipe with a white substance in the walk-in wardrobe.

The facts say that a search was conducted at an Ourimbah home where police found $217,000 cash, money counter, taser, 352 methylamphetamine tablets and a ballistic vest.

Anderson was charged with manufacturing and supplying 10kg of `ice’, knowingly deal with $40,000 in cash being the proceeds of crime and two counts of possessing a prohibited weapon being the taser and ballistics vest.

Ryan’s matter was adjourned for first mention in the Gosford District Court on July 28, while Anderson’s matter was adjourned to Wyong Local Court on August 30.