Ireland drugs bust: 8 men jailed up to 20 years for £132m

Eight men have been jailed for their roles in Ireland's largest ever drugs seizure, following a dramatic military operation that saw Irish soldiers storm a cargo ship in 2023. The sentences ranged from 13 and a half years to 20 years in prison.

More than 2.2 tonnes of cocaine worth around £132 million was discovered aboard the MV Matthew after Irish Army Ranger Wing troops boarded the vessel in September 2023. The daring operation took place whilst the crew attempted to steer the ship towards international waters.

Dramatic military intervention

The drugs were seized after Irish forces conducted a high-stakes boarding operation on the cargo vessel. All eight men admitted their involvement in the massive drug trafficking operation during court proceedings.

Six of the defendants were arrested directly on board the MV Matthew and pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine for sale or supply between 24 and 26 September 2023. The remaining two men were on a separate boat purchased to collect the drugs.

Lengthy prison sentences

Dutch national Cumali Ozgen, 49, received the longest sentence of 20 years at Friday's hearing. Second officer Harold Estoesta, 31, from the Philippines, was sentenced to 18 years in prison.

The vessel's captain, Iranian Soheil Jelveh, 51, received 17 and a half years imprisonment. Ukrainian nationals Vitaliy Vlasoi, 33, and Mykhailo Gavryk, 32, were sentenced to 16 and a half years and 14 years respectively.

Additional convictions

Third officer Saeid Hassani, 40, received a 15-year sentence for his role in the operation. Two other men connected to a support vessel also faced justice.

Ukrainian national Vitaliy Lapa, 62, from Berdyansk, was sentenced to 14 and a half years. Jamie Harbron, 31, from Billingham in the UK, received 13 and a half years in prison.

Clear message to criminals

Detective Superintendent Joe O'Reilly from An Garda Siochana said the sentences send a "clear message" that Ireland is "not a soft target" for international organised crime networks. He warned drug traffickers they face "the full force of the Irish state" supported by international partners.

"The reality facing you is security interdictions, special investigations, the Special Criminal Court, lengthy sentences and asset seizure," O'Reilly told reporters outside the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin. He emphasised that tackling transnational organised crime gangs makes Ireland and other countries safer from groups that "cause misery to communities throughout the world".

Joint task force operation

Detective Superintendent O'Reilly noted the work of the joint task force that conducted the operation. The collaborative effort included An Garda Siochana, the Revenue Customs Service and the Naval Service supported by other arms of the Irish Defence Forces including the Army Ranger Wing and Air Corps.

(PA) Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.