Four men have pleaded guilty to possessing 2.2 tonnes of cocaine for supply aboard a Panamanian cargo ship, marking Ireland’s largest-ever drug seizure.
The MV Matthew was intercepted in a dramatic military operation off the Irish coast in September 2023. Army Rangers, a specialist unit of the Irish Defence Forces, boarded the vessel after it ignored warning shots. Authorities recovered cocaine valued at more than €157 million.
The four accused—Ukrainians Mykhailo Gavryk, 32, and Vitaliy Vlasoi, 32; Iranian Soheil Jelveh, 51; and Dutch national Cumali Ozgen, 49—were due to stand trial but pleaded guilty before the Special Criminal Court in Dublin on Thursday.
Eight men in total face charges related to the seizure. Two other defendants, Iranian Saeid Hassani, 39, and Filipino Harold Estoesta, 31, remain in custody and will go on trial Monday.
Another suspect, Ukrainian Vitaliy Lapa, 62, previously pleaded guilty to attempting to possess cocaine for sale and participating in criminal activity. UK national Jamie Harbron, 31, also admitted to drug-related charges and awaits sentencing.
Ms Justice Melanie Greally remanded the four latest defendants in custody until February 24, when a sentencing date is expected to be set.
