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. 2575Possession of controlled drugs (cocaine), organised crime, illicit traffic by sea · Co. Cork · 24 Sep 2023

Six MV Matthew cocaine defendants seek dismissal of charges at Special Criminal Court

Six of the seven men charged in connection with the seizure of 2.25 tonnes of cocaine worth over €157 million from the Panama-registered MV Matthew off the Co Cork coast in September 2023 are applying to have charges dismissed before their trial at the Special Criminal Court.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court13 Jan
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
13 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatSix of the seven men charged are applying to have charges dismissed (irishtimes.com)
  • what2.25 tonnes of cocaine were seized from the MV Matthew (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe cocaine had an estimated value of more than €157 million (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe ship was boarded off the Co Cork coast (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe operation took place in September 2023 (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe MV Matthew was a Panama-registered bulk carrier (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe ship was boarded by Army Rangers of the Irish Defence Forces (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeVitaliy Lapa is charged under section 5 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977 for dates between September 24 and 26, 2023 (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeLapa is also charged under section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006 for contributing to a criminal organisation's activity between July 15 and September 25, 2023 (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeThe other six defendants face similar charges plus charges under the Criminal Justice (Illicit Traffic by Sea) Act 2003 (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeJamie Harbron pleaded guilty to attempting to have cocaine in his possession for sale or supply between September 21 and 25, 2023 (irishtimes.com)
  • courtHearings are due to begin before a three-judge non-jury court and are expected to last three to four days (irishtimes.com)
  • courtHarbron is due to appear before the court later this year for a sentencing hearing (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 13 Jan2025
    In courtirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Six men accused in relation to €157m cocaine haul on MV Matthew seeking to have charges dismissed

    Reports that six of the seven MV Matthew defendants are applying under the Criminal Procedure Act to have charges dismissed before trial, with hearings expected to last three to four days before the three-judge Special Criminal Court. Vitaliy Lapa is the only accused not making the application. UK national Jamie Harbron, who previously pleaded guilty, is due for sentencing later this year.

    accused, Mykhailo Gavryk, 32, male, Ukrainian, named, non-irishMykhailo Gavrykaccused, Vitaliy Vlasoi, 32, male, Ukrainian, named, non-irishVitaliy Vlasoiaccused, Vitaliy Lapa, 61, male, Ukrainian, named, non-irishVitaliy Lapaaccused, 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, Jamie Harbron, 31, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Jamie Harbron