Ireland Named in reporting
Saeid Hassani
Born 1985, from the ages reported. 31 reports across 3 cases, 3 Oct 2023 to 4 Jul 2025
Key facts
from every report naming them- Named as
- Convicted, accused, suspect
- Born
- 1985, from the ages reported
- Nationality
- Iranian, as stated in a report
- Offences
- Possession of cocaine for sale or supply, Attempted possession of cocaine for sale or supply
- Where
- Co. Dublin, Co. Cork, Co. Wexford
- Reporting
- 31 reports, 3 Oct 2023 to 4 Jul 2025
- Outlets
- irishmirror.ie, rte.ie, irishtimes.com, corkbeo.ie, thejournal.ie
Photographs
as published, with the outlet's credit
Images are shown from the outlet that published them and link back to the article. Copyright stays with the credited photographer or agency.
Cases
latest first- Eight jailed for cocaine possession on MV Matthew in Dublin Possession of cocaine for sale or supply · Co. Dublin
Eight men were sentenced on 4 July 2025 at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin for their roles in smuggling 2.25 tonnes of cocaine worth over €157 million on the Panamanian-registered bulk carrier MV Matthew. The ship, crewed by men hired by a transnational organised crime group in Dubai, was intercepted in Irish waters on 26 September 2023 after departing from Curacao off the Venezuelan coast. Six crew members on board and two men on a second vessel were arrested after the Army Ranger Wing boarded the ship in severe weather. All eight pleaded guilty to possession or attempted possession of cocaine for sale or supply. They received sentences ranging from 13 and a half to 20 years, totalling 129 years.
Sentenced, 4 Jul 2025Convicted, accused · 4 reports - Eight men convicted of cocaine possession for supply off Cork Possession of cocaine for sale or supply · Co. Cork
In September 2023, Army Rangers boarded the Panamanian-registered bulk carrier MV Matthew off the Cork coast and seized 2,253kg of cocaine valued at €157 million, described as the largest drugs seizure in Irish history. Eight men, including British, Ukrainian, Iranian, Dutch and Filipino nationals, were arrested and charged in connection with the seizure. All eight pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine for sale or supply before the Special Criminal Court. The sentencing hearing, which heard evidence of the Dubai-based criminal organisation that directed the operation, is ongoing with sentences to be delivered on 4 July 2025.
Convicted, 19 Dec 2024Convicted, accused, suspect · 14 reports - Eight men await sentencing over €157m cocaine seizure off Wexford Possession of cocaine for sale or supply · Co. Wexford
Approximately 2.25 tonnes of cocaine, valued at more than €157 million, was seized from the Panamanian-registered bulk carrier MV Matthew off the Wexford coast in September 2023, the largest cocaine seizure in Irish history. The ship, owned by Dubai-based Symphony Marine, had departed Curaçao and was pursued by the Naval Service before Army Rangers boarded it on 26 September 2023. Eight men, including ship's officers of Ukrainian, Iranian, Dutch, Filipino, and non-Irish nationality, were charged with possession of cocaine for sale or supply and participation in a criminal organisation. All eight defendants pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court, with the last two, Iranian Saeid Hassani (39) and Filipino Harold Estoesta (31), entering their pleas on 18 February 2025. They are remanded in custody until 24 February 2025 for a mention hearing to fix a sentencing date.
Convicted, 6 Feb 2025Convicted, accused, suspect · 13 reports
Timeline
every report naming Saeid Hassani, newest firstEach entry shows how that report described them.
- 4 Jul2025MV Matthew €157m cocaine seizure sentencing LIVE as eight men learn their fateconvicted, Saeid Hassani, 40, male, Iranian, named, non-irishSaeid Hassani
- 4 Jul2025Eight jailed over largest cocaine seizure in Irelandconvicted, Saeid Hassani, 39, male, Iranian, named, non-irishSaeid Hassani
- 5 Jun2025‘Go like f**k mate’: How the MV Matthew ship and a €157 million drugs haul was seizedaccused, Saeid Hassani, 40, male, Iranian, named, non-irishSaeid Hassani
- 5 Jun2025Crew hired for 'Cork cocaine ship' MV Matthew were under ‘financial pressure’accused, Saeid Hassani, 39, male, Iranian, named, non-irishSaeid Hassani
- 4 Jun2025Two MV Matthew crew were 'expendable', court toldconvicted, Saeid Hassani, 40, male, Iranian, named, non-irishSaeid Hassani
- 4 Jun2025Captain of Cork cocaine ship MV Matthew ‘feared for his life’accused, Saeid Hassani, 39, male, Iranian, named, non-irishSaeid Hassani
- 3 Jun2025Iranian smugglers, Dubai gangsters and the frantic crew texts as Irish Special Forces boardedconvicted, Saied Hassani, 39, male, Iranian, named, non-irishSaied Hassani
- 3 Jun2025Irish Army rangers risked their lives in boarding cargo ship carrying cocaine, court hearssuspect, Saeid Hassani, 39, male, Iranian, named, non-irishSaeid Hassani
- 19 Feb2025MV Matthew: How Elite Ranger wing took down Ireland's biggest ever coke shipmentconvicted, Saeid Hassani, 39, male, Iranian, named, non-irishSaeid Hassani
- 18 Feb2025Two plead guilty over roles in largest cocaine seizure in Irish historysuspect, Saeid Hassani, 39, male, Iranian, named, non-irishSaeid Hassani
- 18 Feb2025Pair plead guilty to part in largest ever cocaine seizure in Irelandsuspect, Saeid Hassani, 39, male, Iranian, named, non-irishSaeid Hassani
- 18 Feb2025Two plead guilty over €157m cocaine seizure on cargo shipconvicted, Saeid Hassani, 39, male, Iranian, named, non-irishSaeid Hassani
- 13 Feb2025Officer tried to mask MV Matthew's position, court toldaccused, Saeid Hassani, 39, male, Iranian, named, non-irishSaeid Hassani
- 12 Feb2025Group on MV Matthew told to be ready to burn €157m cocaine load, court toldaccused, Saeid Hassani, 39, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Saeid Hassani
- 12 Feb2025Trial hears of messages to MV Matthew to burn €157m cocaineaccused, Saeid Hassani, 39, male, Iranian, named, non-irishSaeid Hassani
- 11 Feb2025Pair played ‘essential part’ in international drug trafficking scheme, Special Criminal Court hearssuspect, Saeid Hassani, 39, male, Iranian, named, non-irishSaeid Hassani
- 11 Feb2025Trial over largest cocaine seizure in Irish history beginsaccused, Saeid Hassani, 39, male, Iranian, named, non-irishSaeid Hassani
- 11 Feb2025MV Matthew: Trial of two men for alleged part in country's biggest trafficking seizure beginsaccused, Saeid Hassani, 39, male, Iranian, named, non-irishSaeid Hassani
- 6 Feb2025Four men plead guilty over record breaking €157m cocaine seizureaccused, Saeid Hassani, 39, male, Iranian, named, non-irishSaeid Hassani
- 6 Feb2025Four men plead guilty in relation to largest cocaine seizure in Irish historyaccused, Saeid Hassani, 39, male, Iranian, named, non-irishSaeid Hassani
- 4 Feb2025Six men facing trial in relation to raid on Panamanian cargo ship fail to have charges dismissedaccused, Saeid Hassani, 39, male, Iranian, named, non-irishSaeid Hassani
- 27 Jan2025Man due to go on trial after cocaine seizure on Panamanian cargo ship pleads guilty to drugs offenceaccused, Saeid Hassani, 39, male, Iranian, named, non-irishSaeid Hassani
- 13 Jan2025Six men accused in relation to €157m cocaine haul on MV Matthew seeking to have charges dismissedaccused, Saeid Hassani, 39, male, Iranian, named, non-irishSaeid Hassani
- 24 Jun2024Eight men charged in relation to State’s largest ever drug seizure given January trial dateaccused, Saeid Hassani, 38, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Saeid Hassani
- 7 May2024Men charged over State’s biggest drug seizure to be tried at the Special Criminal Courtaccused, Saeid Hassani, 38, male, Iranian, named, non-irishSaeid Hassani
- 12 Mar2024Experts for men charged with biggest drug seizure in history of state allowed examine ship at centre of €157m haulaccused, Saeid Hassani, 38, male, Iranian, named, non-irishSaeid Hassani
- 5 Oct2023Eighth person arrested in connection with €150m cocaine haul due in Cork courtaccused, Saeid Hassani, 38, male, namedSaeid Hassani
- 4 Oct2023Four men appear in court over €157million cocaine seizureaccused, Saeid Hassani, 38, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Saeid Hassani
- 3 Oct2023Four men appear in court charged with €150 million Cork cartel ship cocaine haulaccused, Saeid Hassani, 38, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Saeid Hassani
- 3 Oct2023Four more men remanded in custody over €157m cocaine seizure off Cork coastaccused, Saeid Hassani, 38, male, Iranian, named, non-irishSaeid Hassani
- 3 Oct2023Four charged in relation to drugs seizure off Corkaccused, Saeid Hassani, 37, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Saeid Hassani
Matched on the name as printed, ignoring quoted nicknames, and split by the ages reported. Two people who share a name and age would appear together here.