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Four plead guilty over €157m cocaine ship seizure

PA Media Black boat with Matthew in white text, military personnel pictured onboard deckPA Media
The 2.25 tonnes of cocaine that was seized from the MV Matthew, a Panamanian-registered bulk carrier, has an estimated value of more than €157 million

Four men have pleaded guilty to having 2.2 tonnes of cocaine for supply on board a Panamanian cargo ship in September 2023.

A multi-agency operation off the Irish coast resulted in the largest such seizure in the history of the state.

The four were due to go on trial having earlier this week failed in a bid to have the charges against them dismissed.

The four men - Ukrainians Mykhailo Gavryk, 32, and Vitaliy Vlasoi, 32; Iranian Soheil Jelveh, 51, and Dutch national 49-year-old Cumali Ozgen - appeared before the Special Criminal Court in Dublin on Thursday, where they were each arraigned on one of three charges against them.

Eight men in total are facing a number of charges in relation to the drugs seizure.

The 2.25 tonnes of cocaine that was seized from the MV Matthew, a Panamanian-registered bulk carrier, has an estimated value of more than €157 million.

The ship was boarded in a dramatic operation by the Army Rangers, a specialist wing of the Irish Defence Forces, in September 2023, after the ship failed to stop following warning shots.

The men had applied to the non-jury Special Criminal Court on January 13 to have the charges against them dismissed.

On Thursday, Sean Guerin SC, for the State, said the four guilty pleas were acceptable to the Director of Public Prosecutions on a full-facts basis.

Ms Justice Melanie Greally remanded the four defendants in custody until 24 February, when their cases are listed for mention with a view to fixing a sentence date for next term.

PA Media Army Rangers pictured onboard multiple levels of the MV Matthew, large white multi level decking area with ladders connecting themPA Media
The ship was boarded by the Army Rangers, a specialist wing of the Irish Defence Forces

Two other defendants Iranian Saeid Hassani, 39, and Filipino Harold Estoesta, 31, will stand trial on Monday before the Special Criminal Court arising from the seizure of the cocaine.

The two men were remanded in custody until then.

A seventh man, Ukrainian national Vitaliy Lapa, 62, with an address at Rudenka, Repina Str in Berdyansk, was previously arraigned on one of the two charges against him.

Mr Lapa pleaded guilty that on dates between 21 and 25 September 2023, he attempted to possess cocaine for the purpose of selling or otherwise supplying to another.

Mr Lapa was also facing a charge that between 15 July and 23 September 2023, both dates inclusive, within the state, with knowledge of the existence of a criminal organisation, that he participated in, or contributed to, activity intending to, or being reckless as to whether such participation or contribution could facilitate the commission of a serious offence by that criminal organisation or any of its members.

AN GARDA SÍOCHÁNA Piles of packages wrapped in black plastic in front of three signs saying 'joint task force' AN GARDA SÍOCHÁNA
More than two tonnes of cocaine was seized by a Garda Joint Task Force

Mr Lapa was the only one of the accused men who did not make an application under the Criminal Procedure Act to have his case dismissed.

UK national Jamie Harbron, 31, has also pleaded guilty to an offence arising from the seizure.

He will appear before the court later this year for a sentencing hearing.

Mr Harbron, of South Avenue in Billingham, pleaded guilty that on a date between 21 and 25 September 2023, both dates inclusive, he attempted to have cocaine in his possession for the purpose of sale or supply, an offence under the Misuse of Drugs Act.