Warren Shea fronts court over large-scale drug manufacturing

A crane spotter working on the Metro Tunnel project was brought down by police after they uncovered one of the biggest drug labs in the state’s history and seized 100kg of ice.

Crane spotter at Metro Tunnel project Warren Shea leaves County Court after pleading guilty to serious drug charges.

A crane spotter working on the Metro Tunnel project has pleaded guilty to serious drug charges after police busted one of the biggest illicit drug labs in Victoria’s history at Macedon Ranges.

Warren Shea, 53, fronted the County Court on Monday when he pleaded guilty to a charge of possessing substance and equipment for manufacturing methamphetamine and another of attempting to possess a controlled drug.

Shea and Peter Siaoloa were arrested in September 2020 during a sweeping series of raids after investigators busted the massive drug lab at a rural property, 70km north of Melbourne in the Macedon Ranges.

Warren Shea was arrested in September 2020 in a sweeping series of raids over alleged large-scale drug manufacturing in the Macedon Ranges.

Police seized 100kg of methamphetamine and discovered barrels of liquid methamphetamine as well as precursor chemicals at a large-scale clandestine lab under construction.

The drug lab was located inside a shed.

Siaoloa was sentenced to nine years’ imprisonment last December for his role in the drug operation.

Shea was remanded on bail to appear for a plea hearing on April 30.

The Joint Organised Crime Taskforce was made up by members of the Australian Federal Police, Victoria Police, Australian Border Force and the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission.