Eight Men Sentenced for Involvement in Ireland's Largest Drug Seizure

Eight men have been sentenced to prison terms ranging from 13 to 20 years for their involvement in Ireland's largest drug seizure. The arrests followed a joint operation by Garda, Revenue Customs, and Defence Forces targeting the MV Matthew cargo ship and Castlemore trawler in September 2023.

Special forces operators from the Army Ranger Wing fastroped onto the MV Matthew off Waterford on 26 September 2023. Detective Superintendent Keith Halley, who led the investigation, highlighted that the operation involved intelligence from gardaí, customs, ARW, and the naval ship LÉ William Butler Yeats. The ship, carrying €157 million worth of cocaine, was intercepted en route to Sierra Leone.

The MV Matthew was purchased by an organized crime group for drug smuggling. The accused were identified through a thorough investigation, which involved monitoring their communication with crime gang handlers in Dubai.

The accused from the MV Matthew include Saied Hassani, Harold Estoesta, Mykhailo Gavryk, Vitali Vlasoi, Soheil Jelveh, and Cumali Ozgen. The individuals from the Castlemore were Vitaliy Lapa and Jamie Harbron. They pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court for offenses related to drug trafficking.

According to the source: The Journal.