Courts / Ireland / Report

Eight MV Matthew defendants get sentencing date

Summary

Eight defendants have been scheduled for sentencing before the Special Criminal Court on June 3 and 4, following their guilty pleas in connection with the seizure of 2.25 tonnes of cocaine aboard the MV Matthew. The vessel, a Panamanian-registered bulk carrier, was boarded by Army Rangers in September 2023, resulting in what is described as the largest cocaine seizure in Irish history, with an estimated value exceeding €157 million. Mykhailo Gavryk, Vitaliy Vlasoi, Soheil Jelveh, Saeid Hassani, Harold Estoesta, and Cumali Ozgen pleaded guilty to possessing controlled drugs for the purpose of sale or supply between September 24 and 26, 2023, while on board the vessel outside the State. Ukrainian national Vitaliy Lapa pleaded guilty to attempting to possess cocaine for sale or supply at a location within the State between September 21 and 25, 2023. Jamie Harbron, of the UK, also pleaded guilty to attempting to possess cocaine for sale or supply during the same period. The court heard evidence that the ship, owned by a Dubai-based company, used its Automatic Identification System to simulate a false position while sailing from Curacao. It was intended to meet a fishing boat named The Castlemore for the physical transfer of the drugs. The matter is now at the sentencing stage, with specific dates set for the disposal of these cases.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Eight MV Matthew defendants get sentencing date. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• September 2023 Other
• September 24 Incident
• September 21 Incident
• September 25, 2023 Incident
• June 3 Incident
• 2017 to 2023 Other
• 2025-04-07 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Drugs Stage Sentence

Read the original CNI report