Harold Estoesta jailed for 18 years over cocaine trafficking

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Harold Estoesta was jailed for 18 years for possessing cocaine for sale or supply at the Special Criminal Court on 4 July 2025. The offence involved cocaine aboard the MV Matthew outside the State between 24 and 26 September 2023.

Justice Melanie Greally set a headline sentence of 28 years before reducing it to 18 years after considering mitigating factors, including Estoesta’s guilty plea. The court heard that the operation involved 2.2 tonnes of cocaine valued at €157 million.

The judge said Estoesta persistently defied orders from Irish Customs and naval officers, siding with the organised crime group as the ship tried to escape with the drugs. She also cited the attempted destruction of evidence as an aggravating feature.