Wednesday 28 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 6333Possession of cocaine for sale or supply · Co. Cork · 26 Sep 2023

Four men charged over MV Matthew €157m cocaine haul get free legal aid for interpreters

Four crew members of the MV Matthew, charged over possession of cocaine for sale or supply, appeared at Mallow District Court by video link from Cork Prison. Judge Colm Roberts granted free legal aid and remanded them in custody to March 26th.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court12 Mar
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
12 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe four men are charged in connection with the largest drugs seizure in the history of the state. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatGardaí, Customs and the Naval Service were part of a Joint Task Force operation. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe search found 2.2 tonnes of cocaine hidden on deck. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe four men were arrested on the MV Matthew, a bulk carrier off the Cork coast. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe arrests took place in the early hours of September 26th, 2023. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe defence lawyers have been given permission to have the ship examined by experts. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationGardaí hope to have the book of evidence ready to serve on the accused on April 23rd. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeThe four face two charges of possession of over €13,000 worth of cocaine for sale or supply on board the MV Matthew. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe four made their 12th court appearance at Mallow District Court by video link from Cork Prison. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe DPP directed that all four be tried on indictment at Cork Circuit Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtJudge Colm Roberts granted free legal aid applications for all four accused. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe four were remanded in custody to appear again at Mallow District Court on March 26th by video link. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 12 Mar2024
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Experts for men charged with biggest drug seizure in history of state allowed examine ship at centre of €157m haul

    First report of this case in the existing list. The four accused are crew of the MV Matthew, arrested after the cocaine haul. Other crew members, the captain and two other men are charged separately in other courts and are not included here.

    accused, Myhailo Gavryk, 30, male, Ukrainian, named, non-irishMyhailo Gavrykaccused, Vitaliy Vlasoi, 30, male, Ukrainian, named, non-irishVitaliy Vlasoiaccused, Saeid Hassani, 38, male, Iranian, named, non-irishSaeid Hassaniaccused, Cumali Ozgen, 48, male, Dutch, named, non-irishCumali Ozgen