Warren Shea fronts court over serious drug offending

A crane spotter at Metro Tunnel had his access to government-funded worksites revoked after his involvement in one of the biggest drug labs in the state’s history came to light.

Crane spotter at Metro Tunnel project Warren Shea is pleading for a non-custodial sentence for his role in a major drug manufacturing enterprise.

A crane spotter on the Metro Tunnel who was arrested after police seized 100kg of ice from one of the biggest drug labs in the state’s history is pleading for a non-custodial sentence.

Warren Shea was nabbed alongside Peter Siaoloa and Joshua Seal 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.

Shea appeared for a plea hearing in the County Court on Wednesday after pleading guilty in February to charges of possessing substance and equipment for manufacturing methamphetamine and attempting to possess a controlled drug.

Prosecutor Cara Foot told the court that 100kg of meth contained in four 250 litre drums arrived from Hong Kong into Sydney where investigators intercepted and substituted them with a non chemically reactive substance.

Investigators on a property at Macedon Ranges where they uncovered one of the biggest drug labs in Victoria’s history and seized 100kg of ice.

At 9.40am on September 3, 2020, police purporting to be delivery drivers delivered the drums to an house in Sunshine West and Seal then transported the drums to a property in the Macedon Ranges where Shea was waiting at the entrance.

At 4.45pm, police raided the property and Shea was arrested. When asked if there was anything dangerous inside a shed, Shea replied “chemicals”. Seal’s arrest followed. Inside the shed, police found a large number of equipment associated with a clandestine drug lab.

Seal was sentenced to a minimum of 10 years’ and six months’ imprisonment in July last year while Siaoloa was jailed for a minimum of six years’ imprisonment for their roles in the offending.

Shea’s lawyer Julie Condon submitted that a recognizance release order would be an appropriate outcome, given Shea’s role was confined to his presence at the premises that police raided and his excellent prospects of rehabilitation.

She said Shea’s employer has revoked his access to government-funded worksites after he pleaded guilty.

Shea will be sentenced at a later date.