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. 6357Drug trafficking at sea

Six men fail to have charges dismissed over MV Matthew cocaine seizure

Army Rangers boarded the Panamanian-registered bulk carrier MV Matthew in September 2023 and seized 2.25 tonnes of cocaine, estimated at more than €157 million. Eight men are named in the case facts, including Ukrainian men Mykhailo Gavryk, 32, Vitaliy Vlasoi, 32, and Vitaliy Lapa, 62, Iranian men Soheil Jelveh, 51, and Saeid Hassani, 39, Dutch man Cumali Ozgen, 49, Filipino man Harold Estoesta, 31, and UK national Jamie Harbron, 31. Lapa was arraigned and pleaded guilty to one of two charges, and Harbron pleaded guilty earlier and awaits sentencing later in the year. On 13 January 2025 six defendants applied to the Special Criminal Court to have the charges against them dismissed. The court refused the application, and the matter was adjourned to Wednesday, as reported on 4 February 2025.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court4 Feb
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
2.25 tonnes of cocaine was seized from the MV Matthew, a Panamanian-registered bulk carrier.
Other details
  • The seizure, with an estimated value of more than €157 million, was described as the largest cocaine seizure in Irish history.
  • The case facts name eight men, while the articles refer to six defendants.
When
The ship was boarded in September 2023.
Investigation
The Army Rangers, a specialist wing of the Irish Defence Forces, boarded the ship.
Charges
  • Six men are charged with drug trafficking offences at sea contrary to the Criminal Justice Act 1994.
  • Lapa pleaded guilty to attempting to have cocaine in his possession for sale or supply between 21 and 25 September 2023, with a market value of €13,000 or more.
  • Lapa also faces a charge of participating in a criminal organisation between 15 July and 23 September 2023.
  • Harbron pleaded guilty to attempting to have cocaine in his possession for sale or supply between 21 and 25 September 2023 under the Misuse of Drugs Act.
In court
  • Six men applied to the Special Criminal Court on 13 January 2025 to have the charges against them dismissed under Section 4E of the Criminal Justice Act 1999, which prohibits reporting of evidence and arguments.
  • The Special Criminal Court refused the application under Section 4E of the Criminal Justice Act 1999.
  • The matter was adjourned until Wednesday.
  • Vitaliy Lapa, a Ukrainian national aged 62, appeared before the court and was arraigned on one of two charges against him.
Sentence
Jamie Harbron, a UK national aged 31, awaits sentencing later in the year.
13 statements extracted from the articles
  • what2.25 tonnes of cocaine was seized from the MV Matthew, a Panamanian-registered bulk carrier, with an estimated value of more than €157 million. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe ship was boarded by the Army Rangers, a specialist wing of the Irish Defence Forces, in September 2023. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeThe six men are charged with drug trafficking offences at sea contrary to the Criminal Justice Act 1994. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeLapa pleaded guilty to attempting to have cocaine in his possession for sale or supply between 21 and 25 September 2023, with a market value of €13,000 or more. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeLapa also faces a charge of participating in a criminal organisation between 15 July and 23 September 2023. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeHarbron pleaded guilty to attempting to have cocaine in his possession for sale or supply between 21 and 25 September 2023 under the Misuse of Drugs Act. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtSix men applied to the Special Criminal Court on 13 January 2025 to have charges against them dismissed. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe application was made under Section 4E of the Criminal Justice Act 1999, which prohibits reporting of evidence and arguments. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe presiding judge stated the court was refusing the application in accordance with Section 4E of the Criminal Justice Act 1999. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe matter was adjourned until Wednesday. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtUkrainian national Vitaliy Lapa, 62, appeared before the court and was arraigned on one of two charges against him. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtUK national Jamie Harbron, 31, previously pleaded guilty to an offence arising from the seizure and will appear for sentencing later in the year. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe seizure was described as the largest cocaine seizure in Irish history. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 4 Feb2025
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Six men facing trial in relation to raid on Panamanian cargo ship fail to have charges dismissed

    The Special Criminal Court refused the six defendants' application under Section 4E of the Criminal Justice Act 1999 to have charges dismissed. The matter was adjourned to Wednesday. Vitaliy Lapa pleaded guilty to one of two charges, and Jamie Harbron previously pleaded guilty and awaits sentencing.

    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, Saeid Hassani, 39, male, Iranian, named, non-irishSaeid Hassaniaccused, Cumali Ozgen, 49, male, Dutch, named, non-irishCumali Ozgenaccused, 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