Courts / Ireland / Report

Crew due to transfer 2.5t of cocaine from MV Matthew were 'completely expendable', court hears

Summary

The Special Criminal Court heard mitigation submissions for eight defendants who pleaded guilty to offences arising from the seizure of 2.25 tonnes of cocaine on the MV Matthew. The court heard that the Dubai-based organisers considered crew members Jamie Harbron and Vitaliy Lapa "completely expendable" after their vessel, the Castlemore, ran aground. Harbron and Lapa pleaded guilty to attempting to possess cocaine for sale or supply. Mykhailo Gavryk, Vitaliy Vlasoi, Soheil Jelveh, Saeid Hassani, Harold Estoesta, and Cumali Ozgen pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine for sale or supply. Defence counsel argued that the defendants were hired for specific roles, were not the leaders of the enterprise, and relied on their guilty pleas and foreign imprisonment as mitigation. Harbron, the only defendant with prior convictions, was described as being on the "lowest rung" of the operation. Counsel for others highlighted their good character and financial vulnerabilities. The court, comprising Ms Justice Melanie Greally, Judge Sarah Berkeley, and Judge Grainne Malone, will deliver sentences on July 4.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Crew due to transfer 2.5t of cocaine from MV Matthew were 'completely expendable', court hears. Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision

When:

• September 26, 2022 Other
• September 24 Incident
• September 21 Incident
• July 4 Other
• 2025-06-04 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Drugs Stage Hearing Or Decision

Read the original CNI report