Eight men jailed over Ireland’s largest ever cocaine seizure

In a landmark case, six men involved in Ireland’s largest-ever drug seizure have been sentenced to a combined total of 129 years in prison. The men were apprehended aboard the MV Matthew, which was intercepted by Defence Forces soldiers in September 2023, leading to the discovery of over 2.2 tonnes of cocaine valued at approximately €157 million. The Special Criminal Court revealed that the crew had been hired by an international organized crime group based in Dubai.

Details of the Seizure and Sentencing

The MV Matthew, a Panamanian-registered bulk carrier, was stormed by Irish Defence Forces while sailing under the flag of Panama. The court heard that the ship was owned by a Dubai-based company, Symphony Marine, and had departed from Curacao, off the coast of Venezuela, before entering Irish territorial waters. The operation was orchestrated by an organized crime group in Dubai, which directed the crew to evade law enforcement and deliver the illicit cargo to an Irish vessel.

During the sentencing on Friday, the court handed down significant prison terms to the crew members. Dutch national Cumali Ozgen, 49, received a 20-year sentence, while Filipino Harold Estoesta, 31, was sentenced to 18 years. The ship’s captain, Iranian Soheil Jelveh, 51, received 17-and-a-half years. Two Ukrainian crew members, Vitaliy Vlasoi and Mykhailo Gavryk, both 32, were sentenced to 16-and-a-half and 14 years, respectively. Additionally, Saeid Hassani, 40, the third officer, received a 15-year sentence.

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Two other individuals, who attempted to collect the drugs using a second vessel, were also sentenced. Ukrainian national Vitaliy Lapa, 62, received 14-and-a-half years, while Jamie Harbron, 31, from the UK, was sentenced to 13-and-a-half years. The court noted that the crew’s original plan involved transferring the drugs to a second ship, the Castlemore, but rough seas and technical difficulties thwarted this effort, leading to the eventual interception by authorities.

Operation and Law Enforcement Response

Despite multiple warnings from the Irish Navy, including warning shots fired from the LE William Butler Yeats, the crew was instructed to continue their course towards a safe port in Sierra Leone. The organized crime group overseeing the operation reportedly disregarded the warnings, demonstrating the high stakes involved in this drug trafficking attempt.

The court’s findings highlight the extensive international networks involved in drug trafficking and the challenges faced by law enforcement agencies in combating such operations. The seizure of the cocaine aboard the MV Matthew marks a significant victory for Irish authorities in their ongoing battle against drug smuggling.

This case serves as a stark reminder of the global nature of drug trafficking and the collaborative efforts required to address it effectively. More updates on this developing story will follow.