Warren Barry Ayre arrested in Nowra as part of Strike Force Burril police operation

Warren Barry Ayre was captured in Nowra on the state’s South Coast on Wednesday afternoon after Oxley detectives applied for a warrant for his arrest when he allegedly went into hiding.

“A 44-year-old man has been actively avoiding police since the search warrants were executed last week,” Oxley Chief Inspector Phil O’Reilly told The Leader.

“Acting on information, police attended a residence in Nowra and arrested a Quipolly man.”

Last week, in a series of rolling raids across Werris Creek, Quipolly, Gunnedah, Spring Ridge, Woolongong and Lake Macquarie, 38 firearms, as well as a silencer, fireworks and drugs were seized.

The undercover operation, code named Strike Force Burril, unfolded with eight raids in two days, and was set up in May to investigate the supply of firearms and illegal drugs across the Oxley Command.

“We will allege the 44-year-old man’s charges are related to exhibits seized from more than one location,” Chief Inspector O’Reilly said.

Ayre is charged with a string of offences including attempting to manufacture a large commercial quantity of methamphetamine, or ice, supplying drugs including cannabis and knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime with intent to conceal it.

“This is a significant arrest in a very exhaustive operation,” Chief Inspector O’Reilly said.

“They are very serious offences he is charged with, and they related to the searches conducted last week by police from Strike Force Burril.”

Ayre appeared in Nowra Local Court on Thursday and made no application for bail, before it was formally refused by Magistrate David Williams.

Robbin King remains behind bars after his arrest by Strike Force Burril detectives, while Adrian Tranter and another woman charged this week have been granted bail.

Stephen Andrew Lawrence, who was arrested during a raid last week in Lake Macquarie, was granted conditional bail in Toronto Local Court. He’s facing 10 firearm and drug-related charges including possessing more than three unregistered guns illegally. He’s been bailed to live in Wallsend in Newcastle and will front court again later this month.