Courts / Ireland / Report

Four admit to having 2.2 tonnes of cocaine in largest ever seizure

Summary

Four men were remanded in custody until February 24 after pleading guilty to possessing 2.25 tonnes of cocaine for supply on the Panamanian-registered vessel MV Matthew. The defendants, Mykhailo Gavryk, Vitaliy Vlasoi, Soheil Jelveh, and Cumali Ozgen, appeared before the Special Criminal Court following the refusal of their application to dismiss charges. The seized cocaine, valued at over €157 million, represents the largest such seizure in Irish history. The court listed the case for mention on February 24 to fix a sentencing date. Separately, Vitaliy Lapa pleaded guilty to attempted possession of cocaine for supply and participation in a criminal organisation. He is scheduled to appear for sentencing later this year. UK national Jamie Harbron also pleaded guilty to attempted possession of cocaine for sale or supply and will appear for a sentencing hearing later this year. Two other defendants, Saeid Hassani and Harold Estoesta, are set to stand trial on Monday before the Special Criminal Court. The court noted that the guilty pleas were acceptable to the Director of Public Prosecutions on a full facts basis.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Four admit to having 2.2 tonnes of cocaine in largest ever seizure. Charges or matters: attempted possession of cocaine for supply; participation in criminal organisation; attempted possession of cocaine for sale or supply; possession of cocaine for supply. Procedural stage: trial

When:

• September 24 Incident
• September 2023 Hearing Or Sentence
• January 13 Hearing Or Sentence
• February 24 Adjournment
• September 21 Incident
• July 15 Incident
• September 23 2023 Incident
• September 25, 2023 Incident
• 2017 to 2023 Other
• 2025-02-06 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Drugs Stage Trial

Read the original CNI report