Interpol Investigates International Links to MV Matthew Drug Seizure

Interpol's director of organised and emerging crime stated that they have identified criminal connections to South America and the Middle East in the investigation into the attempted importation of €157 million worth of cocaine on the MV Matthew. The investigation has now gone international.

During a briefing in Cork, Dave Cauntor mentioned the successful identification of criminal links to South America and the Middle East. Assistant Garda Commission Angela Willis also highlighted that multiple transglobal organised crime networks would be needed for an operation of this scale.

The Joint Task Force involved in the seizure of cocaine declined to comment on speculations linking the funding to elements of the Iranian regime and Hezbollah.

Naval Captain Darragh Kirwan, head of Naval Service Operations Command, mentioned during a press briefing that the first phase of the operation led to the arrest of eight individuals who were sentenced to a total of 129 years in prison. The next phase involves investigating other individuals in Ireland and abroad, focusing on asset recovery.

Ms. Willis noted that the Kinahan organised crime group is part of the investigation, suggesting their involvement in such operations.

A significant amount of drugs were confiscated from the MV Matthew during the operation conducted by joint efforts of garda, Revenue, and Defence Forces in September 2023. The operation involved army rangers boarding the cargo ship at sea.

Six individuals were recruited in Dubai by a transnational organised crime group and traveled to South America for the drug trafficking operation. They were apprehended on the MV Matthew after attempting to burn the drugs despite warnings from the LÉ William Butler Yeats naval vessel.

Two other men purchased a boat, the Castlemore, in Castletownbere to retrieve the drugs from the mothership, but it grounded off the coast of Wexford, necessitating a rescue by the coastguard.

All eight individuals received prison sentences ranging from 13 and a half years to 20 years.

According to the source: RTE.ie.