Ireland Case No. 2291Possession of cocaine for sale or supply · Co. Wexford · 26 Sep 2023
Eight men convicted over Ireland's biggest ever cocaine seizure from MV Matthew off Wexford
Eight men were convicted of possession of cocaine for sale or supply after 2.25 tonnes of the drug, worth an estimated €157 million, was seized from the Panamanian-registered bulk carrier MV Matthew off Wexford on 26 September 2023, the largest cocaine seizure in Irish history. The accused are Ukrainian men Mykhailo Gavryk (32) and Vitaliy Vlasoi (32), Iranian men Soheil Jelveh (51) and Saeid Hassani (39), Dutch man Cumali Ozgen (49), Filipino man Harold Estoesta (31), Ukrainian man Vitaliy Lapa (62), and UK national Jamie Harbron (31). Four of the eight pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court on 6 February 2025, and the remaining two, Hassani and Estoesta, pleaded guilty on 18 February 2025, one week into their trial. All eight were remanded in custody until 24 February 2025 for a mention hearing to fix a sentencing date.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court11 Feb
4 reports - Convicted6 Feb
5 reports - Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- 2.25 tonnes of cocaine with an estimated value of more than €157 million was seized from the MV Matthew, the largest cocaine seizure in Irish history.
- The cocaine was found in a lifeboat packed with hundreds of packages in heavy black plastic, and messages told the crew to burn the cargo if a helicopter attempted to intercept.
- Where
- The MV Matthew, a Panamanian-registered bulk carrier owned by Dubai-based Symphony Marine, was boarded off Wexford on 26 September 2023.
- When
- The ship departed Curacao off the Venezuelan coast on 19 August 2023 and entered Irish waters on 22 September 2023.
- Investigation
- The ship was interdicted by a joint task force of gardaí, Revenue Customs Service, and the Irish Naval Service, and boarded by the Army Ranger Wing who fast-roped from an Air Corps AW139 helicopter just after 1pm on 26 September 2023.
- Encrypted phones found in captain Soheil Jelveh's possession after his medical evacuation on 25 September 2023 revealed communications about transferring the drugs to a fishing vessel called the Castlemore.
- Charges
- All eight men were charged with possession of cocaine for sale or supply on board the MV Matthew between 24 and 26 September 2023 and with participating in a criminal organisation.
- In court
- Four men (Gavryk, Vlasoi, Jelveh, Ozgen) pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court on 6 February 2025, and Lapa and Harbron had previously pleaded guilty to attempting to possess cocaine for sale or supply.
- Saeid Hassani and Harold Estoesta pleaded not guilty when their trial opened on 11 February 2025 but pleaded guilty on 18 February 2025, one week into the trial, making them the last of the eight to admit guilt.
- All eight defendants were remanded in custody until 24 February 2025 for a mention hearing to fix a sentencing date.
- Other details
- The US Drug Enforcement Administration tipped off Irish authorities in early September 2023 that the MV Matthew was bound for Ireland with a massive cocaine consignment.
- The Kinahan cartel helped finance the cocaine deal.
131 statements extracted from the articles
- whatFour men pleaded guilty to charges related to the largest seizure of cocaine in Irish history (irishtimes.com)
- what€157 million of cocaine was discovered on a ship (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe 2.25 tonnes of cocaine seized had an estimated value of more than €157 million (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe seized cocaine weighed 2.25 tonnes and had an estimated value of more than €157 million. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe MV Matthew is a bulk carrier ship 190 metres long and 32 metres wide, previously known as Honmon. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe ship was sailing under the flag of Panama and owned by a Dubai-based company known as Symphony Marine. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe master or captain was Iranian Soheil Jelveh and the chief officer was Ukrainian national Vitaliy Vlasoi. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatJelveh was medically evacuated by the Irish coast guard on 25 September 2023 and replaced by Vlasoi. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatEncrypted telephone devices were found in Jelveh's possession after his evacuation and arrest. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatCommunications revealed arrangements for transportation of the drugs to a fishing vessel called the Castlemore. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatA WhatsApp group called the 'deck officers group' existed among ship's crew officers and others not on board. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe two second officers on board were Ukrainian Mykhailo Gavryk and Harold Estoesta. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe third officer on the vessel was Saeid Hassani. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe 2.25 tonnes of cocaine seized has an estimated value of more than €157 million. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe accused deny having 2.2 tonnes of cocaine on board the Panamanian cargo ship for sale or supply (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe drugs have an estimated value of €157 million and represent the largest cocaine haul in Irish history (irishtimes.com)
- whatMessages told the MV Matthew crew to set a course for Africa at full speed and burn the cocaine if a helicopter attempted to intercept (irishmirror.ie)
- whatFilipino Harold Estoesta was alone on the bridge of the ship as it was being pursued by the Irish navy (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe 2.25 tonnes of cocaine is the largest such seizure in Irish history with an estimated value of more than €157 million (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe MV Matthew was sailing under the flag of Panama but was owned by a Dubai-based company known as Symphony Marine (irishmirror.ie)
- whatA WhatsApp group known as The Deck Officers contained messages in which Estoesta was actively offering ideas to advance the drug trafficking operation (irishmirror.ie)
- whatA joint task force was formed between gardaí, the Revenue Customs Service and the Irish Naval Service (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe MV Matthew was boarded and secured by members of the armed forces and 2,253kg of cocaine was confirmed onboard (irishmirror.ie)
- whatFrom August 22 to September 7, the vessel reported itself as doing a perfect circle off Guyana but the ECDIS showed it was off the coast of Venezuela (irishmirror.ie)
- whatFour co-accused pleaded guilty the previous week to similar offences (irishmirror.ie)
- whatMessages told those on board the MV Matthew to burn the drug load if a helicopter attempted to intercept (irishtimes.com)
- whatHarold Estoesta was alone on the bridge as the ship was pursued by the Naval Service (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe cargo consisted of approximately 2.25 tonnes of cocaine worth an estimated €157 million (irishtimes.com)
- whatBoth Estoesta and Hassani denied having the cocaine for sale or supply (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe MV Matthew was a Panamanian bulk carrier (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe MV Matthew was owned by a Dubai-based company called Symphony Marine (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe men gave direction to others in preparation for transfer of cocaine from the MV Matthew to a fishing boat named the Castlemore (irishtimes.com)
- whatA message instructed those on board to be ready to set the cargo on fire, make a course for Africa at full speed, and burn the cargo if a helicopter intercepted (irishtimes.com)
- whatFrom August 22 to September 7, 2023, the vessel reported itself as doing a perfect circle off Guyana but was actually off the coast of Venezuela (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe MV Matthew did not have dynamic positioning systems (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe MV Matthew was carrying 2.2 tonnes of cocaine worth an estimated €157 million. (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
- whatThe market value of the drug exceeded €13,000. (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
- whatThe State's case was that the two men played an essential part in a very sophisticated and highly professional international drug trafficking operation. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe MV Matthew was owned by a Dubai-based company known as Symphony Marine. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatEvidence showed the men had given direction to others in the preparation for the physical transfer of the drugs onto a fishing boat named The Castlemore. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatBoth accused were in a Deck Officers WhatsApp messaging group with communications about the transportation of the drugs. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatEstoesta was also involved in a group effort to disguise the vessel's true position on the seas. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThey were part of an international drug trafficking operation resulting in the largest cocaine seizure in Irish history (irishtimes.com)
- whatEvidence showed the men gave direction to others in preparation for transferring drugs onto a fishing boat named the Castlemore (irishtimes.com)
- whatBoth accused were in a Deck Officers WhatsApp messaging group with communications about transporting and concealing the drugs (irishtimes.com)
- whatVitaliy Lapa and Jamie Harbron pleaded guilty to attempting to possess cocaine for sale or supply between 21 and 25 September 2023 (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe MV Matthew was a Panamanian-registered tanker seized off the coast of Wexford. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe ARW fast roped onto the ship from an Air Corps AW139 helicopter. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe cocaine was found in a lifeboat packed with hundreds of packages in heavy black plastic. (irishmirror.ie)
- what2,253 kilos of pure cocaine were seized. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatGardaí and customs valued the haul at €157 million with a street value of €490 million. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatA trawler called the Castlemore was intended to rendezvous with the tanker and take on the drugs. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe Castlemore was bought in mid-September for €300,000 in Co Cork with money from Dubai. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe ship was originally called the MV Honmom and was bought and renamed the MV Matthew on 1 August. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe Castlemore ran aground off Wexford on 24 September and the Coast Guard rescued two men from it. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatSkipper Soheil Jelveh fell ill on 25 September and was evacuated by Coast Guard helicopter to hospital under armed Garda guard. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe crew on the MV Matthew ignored repeated orders to stop and the Naval Service fired warning shots across its bow. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe ARW soldiers were on the ship in less than 60 seconds and took full control within five minutes. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe boat was sailed into Cork Harbour where Gardaí took control. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe MV Matthew departed from Curacao, off the Venezuelan coast, and sailed across the Atlantic before arriving in Irish territorial waters (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe fishing boat The Castlemore was grounded on a sandbank off Curracloe on September 24 (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe Castlemore was purchased in Castletownbere, Co. Cork, with the buyer connected to a logistics company in Dubai (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe ship departed from Curaçao off the Venezuelan coast and sailed across the Atlantic (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe Castlemore was grounded on a sandbank off Curracloe, Co Wexford on September 24, 2023 (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe ship departed from Curacao, off the Venezuelan coast, and sailed across the Atlantic before arriving in Irish territorial waters. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe vessel departed from Curacao, off the Venezuelan coast, and sailed across the Atlantic (irishtimes.com)
- whenAt 12.55pm on September 26, Estoesta reported that he was alone at the bridge of the ship (irishmirror.ie)
- whenOn September 22, 2023, The Castlemore left the pier at Castletownbere Harbour with two unknown men onboard (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe charge relates to a period between 24 and 26 September 2023 at a location outside the State (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe ARW seized the ship just after 1pm on 26 September 2023. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe ship left Curacao on 19 August with a stated destination of Gdansk in Poland. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe ship was boarded by Army Rangers, a specialist wing of the Defence Forces, in September 2023 (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe MV Matthew was boarded by the Army Rangers, a specialist wing of the Irish Defence Forces, in September 2023. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe ship was interdicted by a joint task force comprising Revenue Customs Service, Naval Service and An Garda Síochána. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe ship was boarded by the Army Rangers, a specialist wing of the Irish Defence Forces, in September 2023. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe vessel was interdicted following an operation involving Revenue Customs Service, Naval Service and An Garda Síochána (irishtimes.com)
- investigationAnalysis of the encrypted phones revealed communications about transporting controlled drugs to a fishing vessel (irishtimes.com)
- investigationIn Hassani's case there will be evidence of direct channels of communication to others off the vessel (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe ship was boarded and taken over by members of the Irish Army Rangers. (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe cargo ship was followed in hot pursuit by the navy patrol vessel LE William Butler Yeats. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationMembers of the Army Rangers were inserted by the Air Corps and took control of the vessel. (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe US Drug Enforcement Administration tipped off Irish authorities in early September that the MV Matthew was bound for Ireland with a massive cocaine consignment. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe ship was constantly monitored by Spanish, Dutch and US navies before entering Irish waters on 22 September. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeThey pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine for sale or supply on board the MV Matthew between 24 and 26 September 2023 at locations outside the State (irishtimes.com)
- chargeVitaliy Lapa (62) pleaded guilty to attempting to possess cocaine for sale or supply between 21 and 25 September 2023 at a location within the State (irishtimes.com)
- chargeLapa was also facing a charge of participating in a criminal organisation between 15 July and 23 September 2023 (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- chargeVitaliy Lapa pleaded guilty to attempting to possess cocaine for sale or supply at a location within the State between 21 and 25 September 2023. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeJamie Harbron pleaded guilty to attempting to have cocaine in his possession for sale or supply between 21 and 25 September 2023. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeThe accused are charged that on 24 September 2023, on board the MV Matthew within the territorial sea of the State, they had in their possession cocaine for sale or supply with a market value of €13,000 or more. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeThey are also charged with possession of cocaine for sale or supply to a value of €13,000 or more between 24 and 26 September 2023 at locations outside the State. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeEach man faces a third charge of participating in or contributing to activity of a criminal organisation on 24 September 2023. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeBoth are charged with possession of cocaine for sale or supply on board the MV Matthew within territorial seas on 24 September 2023 and at locations outside the State between that date and 26 September 2023 (irishtimes.com)
- chargeBoth are also accused of having knowledge of a criminal organisation and contributing to activity to facilitate a serious offence (irishtimes.com)
- chargeBoth men are charged with possession of cocaine for sale or supply on September 24, 2023, within the territorial sea of the State (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeBoth men also face a third charge of participating in a criminal organisation's activity on September 24, 2023 (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeFour co-accused pleaded guilty to offences connected to the seizure the previous week (irishtimes.com)
- chargeHassani and Estoesta pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine for sale or supply on board the MV Matthew. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeThe charge states that between 24 and 26 September 2023, at a location outside the State, on board the MV Matthew, they had cocaine for sale or supply. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeThe charge states that between 24 and 26 September 2023, at a location outside the State, on board the MV Matthew, the defendants had cocaine for sale or supply in contravention of the Misuse of Drugs Act. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe four accused appeared before the non-jury Special Criminal Court on Thursday and were arraigned on one of three charges (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe four accused applied to the Special Criminal Court on 13 January to have the charges dismissed (irishtimes.com)
- courtSean Guerin SC said the guilty pleas were acceptable to the DPP on a full facts basis (irishtimes.com)
- courtMs Justice Melanie Greally, sitting with Judges Sarah Berkeley and Gráinne Malone, remanded the four in custody until 24 February 2025 (irishtimes.com)
- courtTheir cases are listed for mention with a view to fixing a sentence date for next term (irishtimes.com)
- courtSaeid Hassani (39) and Harold Estoesta (31) will stand trial on Monday before the Special Criminal Court (irishtimes.com)
- courtFour men pleaded guilty before the Special Criminal Court to having 2.2 tonnes of cocaine for supply on board a Panamanian cargo ship. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe four men had applied on 13 January to have the charges against them dismissed. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe four guilty pleas were accepted by the DPP on a full facts basis. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe four defendants were remanded in custody until 24 February for a mention hearing to fix a sentencing date. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtSaeid Hassani and Harold Estoesta were listed to stand trial on Monday before the Special Criminal Court. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtTwo men went on trial at the Special Criminal Court denying possession of 2.2 tonnes of cocaine for sale or supply on board a Panamanian cargo ship. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtFour co-accused pleaded guilty to similar offences the previous week. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtBoth men pleaded not guilty to the three charges. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe trial is before Ms Justice Melanie Greally, sitting with Judge Sarah Berkeley and Judge Grainne Malone. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtFour co-accused pleaded guilty to similar offences the week before the trial opened (irishtimes.com)
- courtBoth men have pleaded not guilty to the three charges and the trial continues (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe trial is expected to last around six weeks with Ms Justice Melanie Greally presiding over the three-judge court (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe trial is expected to last around six weeks (irishtimes.com)
- courtMs Justice Melanie Greally is presiding over the three-judge court (irishtimes.com)
- courtTwo men pleaded guilty one week into their Special Criminal Court trial. (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
- courtHassani and Estoesta were the last of eight defendants to plead guilty. (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
- courtSean Guerin SC for the DPP said the pleas are acceptable on a full facts basis. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtMs Justice Melanie Greally remanded both men in custody to 24 February 2025. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtFour men pleaded guilty earlier in the month: Mykhailo Gavryk (32), Vitaliy Vlasoi (32), Soheil Jelveh (51), and Cumali Ozgen (49). (irishmirror.ie)
- courtVitaliy Lapa (62) and Jamie Harbron (31) pleaded guilty to attempting to possess cocaine for sale or supply between 21 and 25 September 2023. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtMs Justice Melanie Greally remanded both men in custody to 24 February for a sentencing date (irishtimes.com)
- courtTwo men pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court, joining six others who had previously admitted guilt. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherUK national Jamie Harbron has also pleaded guilty and will appear for sentencing later this year (irishtimes.com)
- otherEstuesta was one of two second officers on board the MV Matthew (irishtimes.com)
- otherHassani was the third officer on the vessel and was also party to the WhatsApp group (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe Kinahan cartel helped finance the cocaine deal. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 19 Feb2025MV Matthew: How Elite Ranger wing took down Ireland's biggest ever coke shipment
Reports the latest guilty pleas by Saeid Hassani and Harold Estoesta at the Special Criminal Court, and provides detailed background on the ARW boarding, the Kinahan cartel's financing role, the ship's journey from Curacao, and the failed Castlemore trawler rendezvous.
convicted, Saeid Hassani, 39, male, Iranian, named, non-irishSaeid Hassaniconvicted, Harold Estoesta, 31, male, Filipino, named, non-irishHarold Estoestaconvicted, Mykhailo Gavryk, 32, male, Ukrainian, named, non-irishMykhailo Gavrykconvicted, Vitaliy Vlasoi, 32, male, Ukrainian, named, non-irishVitaliy Vlasoiconvicted, Soheil Jelveh, 51, male, Iranian, named, non-irishSoheil Jelvehconvicted, Cumali Ozgen, 49, male, Dutch, named, non-irishCumali Ozgenconvicted, Vitaliy Lapa, 62, male, Ukrainian, named, non-irishVitaliy Lapaconvicted, Jamie Harbron, 31, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Jamie Harbron - 18 Feb2025Two plead guilty over roles in largest cocaine seizure in Irish history
Provides full details of the guilty pleas, the prosecution case describing the men's roles as ship's officers, the pursuit and boarding of the MV Matthew by the Army Rangers, and the court's remand order for sentencing.
suspect, Saeid Hassani, 39, male, Iranian, named, non-irishSaeid Hassanisuspect, Harold Estoesta, 31, male, Filipino, named, non-irishHarold Estoestasuspect, Mykhailo Gavryk, 32, male, Ukrainian, named, non-irishMykhailo Gavryksuspect, Vitaliy Vlasoi, 32, male, Ukrainian, named, non-irishVitaliy Vlasoisuspect, Soheil Jelveh, 51, male, Iranian, named, non-irishSoheil Jelvehsuspect, Cumali Ozgen, 49, male, Dutch, named, non-irishCumali Ozgensuspect, Vitaliy Lapa, 62, male, Ukrainian, named, non-irishVitaliy Lapasuspect, Jamie Harbron, 31, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Jamie Harbron - 18 Feb2025Pair plead guilty to part in largest ever cocaine seizure in Ireland
Provides details of the guilty pleas, the specific charge period (24–26 September 2023, outside the State), remand to 24 February 2025, and prosecution evidence about the men's roles as ship's officers, the Deck Officers WhatsApp group, the pursuit by LE William Butler Yeats, the ship's ownership by Dubai-based Symphony Marine, and the planned transfer of drugs to fishing boat The Castlemore.
suspect, Saeid Hassani, 39, male, Iranian, named, non-irishSaeid Hassanisuspect, Harold Estoesta, 31, male, Filipino, named, non-irishHarold Estoestasuspect, Mykhailo Gavryk, 32, male, Ukrainian, named, non-irishMykhailo Gavryksuspect, Vitaliy Vlasoi, 32, male, Ukrainian, named, non-irishVitaliy Vlasoisuspect, Soheil Jelveh, 51, male, Iranian, named, non-irishSoheil Jelvehsuspect, Cumali Ozgen, 49, male, Dutch, named, non-irishCumali Ozgensuspect, Vitaliy Lapa, 62, male, Ukrainian, named, non-irishVitaliy Lapasuspect, Jamie Harbron, 31, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Jamie Harbron - 12 Feb2025Group on MV Matthew told to be ready to burn €157m cocaine load, court told
Trial details including WhatsApp messages instructing the crew to burn the cargo, an audio recording of Estoesta saying 'prepare gasoline' and 'make sure everything burns', evidence that the ship's AIS position was falsified from August 22 to September 7, 2023, and confirmation that four co-accused pleaded guilty the previous week.
accused, Harold Estoesta, 31, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Harold Estoestaaccused, Saeid Hassani, 39, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Saeid Hassaniaccused, Mykhailo Gavryk, 32, male, Ukrainian, named, non-irishMykhailo Gavrykaccused, Vitaliy Vlasoi, 32, male, Ukrainian, named, non-irishVitaliy Vlasoiaccused, Soheil Jelveh, 51, male, Iranian, named, non-irishSoheil Jelvehaccused, Cumali Ozgen, 49, male, Dutch, named, non-irishCumali Ozgen - 12 Feb2025Trial hears of messages to MV Matthew to burn €157m cocaine
Prosecution opening address details WhatsApp messages in 'The Deck Officers' group, Det Supt Halley's evidence on the joint task force and The Castlemore, and Gary Delaney's evidence showing the MV Matthew's AIS was falsified from August 22 to September 7, 2023. Four co-accused pleaded guilty the previous week.
accused, Harold Estoesta, 31, male, Filipino, named, non-irishHarold Estoestaaccused, Saeid Hassani, 39, male, Iranian, named, non-irishSaeid Hassaniaccused, Mykhailo Gavryk, 32, male, Ukrainian, named, non-irishMykhailo Gavrykaccused, Vitaliy Vlasoi, 32, male, Ukrainian, named, non-irishVitaliy Vlasoiaccused, Soheil Jelveh, 51, male, Iranian, named, non-irishSoheil Jelvehaccused, Cumali Ozgen, 49, male, Dutch, named, non-irishCumali Ozgen - 11 Feb2025Pair played ‘essential part’ in international drug trafficking scheme, Special Criminal Court hears
Details of the prosecution's opening speech at the Special Criminal Court trial, including the ship's history, the roles of the accused as officers on board, WhatsApp communications, and the discovery of encrypted phones after the captain's medical evacuation.
suspect, Saeid Hassani, 39, male, Iranian, named, non-irishSaeid Hassanisuspect, Harold Estoesta, 31, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Harold Estoestasuspect, Soheil Jelveh, 51, male, Iranian, named, non-irishSoheil Jelvehsuspect, Vitaliy Vlasoi, 32, male, Ukrainian, named, non-irishVitaliy Vlasoisuspect, Mykhailo Gavryk, 32, male, Ukrainian, named, non-irishMykhailo Gavryksuspect, Cumali Ozgen, 49, male, Dutch, named, non-irishCumali Ozgen - 11 Feb2025Trial over largest cocaine seizure in Irish history begins
Reports the opening of the trial, the prosecution's case including details of the ship, crew, communications evidence, and the specific charges against Hassani and Estoesta, who both pleaded not guilty.
accused, Saeid Hassani, 39, male, Iranian, named, non-irishSaeid Hassaniaccused, Harold Estoesta, 31, male, Filipino, named, non-irishHarold Estoestaaccused, Soheil Jelveh, 51, male, Iranian, named, non-irishSoheil Jelvehaccused, Vitaliy Vlasoi, 32, male, Ukrainian, named, non-irishVitaliy Vlasoiaccused, Mykhailo Gavryk, 32, male, Ukrainian, named, non-irishMykhailo Gavrykaccused, Cumali Ozgen, 49, male, Dutch, named, non-irishCumali Ozgen - 6 Feb2025Four men plead guilty over record breaking €157m cocaine seizure
Reports the guilty pleas of four of the eight defendants (Gavryk, Vlasoi, Jelveh, Ozgen) on 6 February 2025; confirms Lapa and Harbron had previously pleaded guilty; notes Hassani and Estoesta will stand trial on Monday; the four are remanded until 24 February for a mention hearing to fix a sentencing date.
accused, Mykhailo Gavryk, 32, male, Ukrainian, named, non-irishMykhailo Gavrykaccused, Vitaliy Vlasoi, 32, male, Ukrainian, named, non-irishVitaliy Vlasoiaccused, Soheil Jelveh, 51, male, Iranian, named, non-irishSoheil Jelvehaccused, Cumali Ozgen, 49, male, Dutch, named, non-irishCumali Ozgenaccused, Saeid Hassani, 39, male, Iranian, named, non-irishSaeid Hassaniaccused, Harold Estoesta, 31, male, Filipino, named, non-irishHarold Estoestaaccused, Vitaliy Lapa, 62, male, Ukrainian, named, non-irishVitaliy Lapaaccused, Jamie Harbron, 31, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Jamie Harbron - 6 Feb2025Four men plead guilty in relation to largest cocaine seizure in Irish history
Reports the guilty pleas of four of the eight accused at the Special Criminal Court on 6 February 2025, confirms the 2.25-tonne seizure valued at over €157 million, and notes that Hassani and Estoesta will stand trial on Monday while Lapa and Harbron have previously pleaded guilty.
accused, Mykhailo Gavryk, 32, male, Ukrainian, named, non-irishMykhailo Gavrykaccused, Vitaliy Vlasoi, 32, male, Ukrainian, named, non-irishVitaliy Vlasoiaccused, Soheil Jelveh, 51, male, Iranian, named, non-irishSoheil Jelvehaccused, Cumali Ozgen, 49, male, Dutch, named, non-irishCumali Ozgenaccused, Saeid Hassani, 39, male, Iranian, named, non-irishSaeid Hassaniaccused, Harold Estoesta, 31, male, Filipino, named, non-irishHarold Estoestaaccused, Vitaliy Lapa, 62, male, Ukrainian, named, non-irishVitaliy Lapaaccused, Jamie Harbron, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Jamie Harbron