Gang with ‘unlimited resources' behind record-breaking €157m cocaine seizure

Sunday World

3 days ago

Eight men will be sentenced for their role in 2.2 tonne smuggling operation
Military personnel on the MV Matthew after a 'significant quantity' of suspected drugs were found onboard in September 2023. Photo: PA
An international crime gang with ­'unlimited resources' operating a 'cell-structure' from Dubai controlled Ireland's record 2.2-tonne cocaine seizure, the Special Criminal Court has heard.
Evidence was also given that a Dutch national arrested as part of the operation 'had worked for the cartel' and was the crime group's 'eyes and ears' on board the cargo vessel transporting the €157m drug shipment.
Eight men are to be sentenced for their role in the drug enterprise, which was foiled in September 2023 after the Army Ranger Wing (ARW) stormed the MV Matthew off the east coast.
Six of the crew have pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine on board the ship for the purpose of sale or supply.
They are the ship's Iranian captain Soheil Jelveh (51), Ukrainians Mykhailo Gavryk (32) and Vitaliy Vlasoi (32), Iranian Saeid Hassani (39), Filipino Harold Estoesta (31) and Dutch national Cumali Ozgen (49).
Two other men who operated a smaller fishing vessel that was expected to receive the drug shipment have pleaded guilty to attempting to possess cocaine for the purpose of sale or supply.
Briton Jamie Harbron (32) and Ukrainian Vitaliy Lapa (62) were on board the Castlemore trawler, which was bought for €300,000 but ran aground off the Wexford coast. Harbron is the only defendant with previous convictions.
Detective Superintendent Keith Halley yesterday told the non-jury court that the criminal organisation behind the drug shipment have 'immense capabilities, unlimited resources and a global reach' to traffic drugs.
He told John Berry SC, prosecuting, that the gang operated a cell structure in Dubai so that if one part was compromised, it wouldn't damage the overall criminal organisation.
Det Supt Halley of the Garda ­National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau said that there was also a 'major ­Iranian nexus to this enterprise'.
Investigations into other cells involved in the 2.2-tonne drug importation are also 'very much ongoing', he said.
The crew members arrested on board the MV Matthew had flown to Dubai that August and were hired to crew the ship before travelling to Venezuela and boarding the vessel.
Only one of the men, Ozgen, had travelled with the cargo ship from Brazil to Venezuela in July before it recrewed and set sail across the Atlantic, collecting the drug shipment on September 4 while at sea.
The criminals overseeing the operation communicated with those on board via messaging apps. In one reassuring message to the crew, they wrote: 'OK, lads no need for luck. Really, this couldn't be any more straightforward. Just relax and this will all be over soon.'
A joint task force involving gardaí, Revenue and the Defence Forces was established to intercept the vessel ­after receiving intelligence of it being involved in drug trafficking.
Military personnel on the MV Matthew after a 'significant quantity' of suspected drugs were found onboard in September 2023. Photo: PA
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The Castlemore had been due to meet with the MV Matthew to collect the drugs off the Irish coast but ran aground on September 24.
Harbron and Lapa were winched from the vessel and later arrested, with a forensic analysis of their phones establishing that the drugs were still on the MV Matthew.
Det Supt Halley said the crime group discussed placing the drugs in a lifeboat and releasing it at sea to reach another fast boat coming from Dublin, which he said showed the gang's resources and reach to establish a contingency plan.
The ship's captain, Jelveh, had repeatedly expressed frustration during the operation about 'how matters were progressing' and was medically evacuated from the vessel on the evening of September 25.
Mr Berry said that 'unusually' he took two suitcases with him, containing over $56,000 in cash as well as four phones, and was later arrested.
The drug operation continued and the MV Matthew ignored repeated instructions to divert to Cork harbour with the Irish Navy firing several warning shots at the vessel.
In the final instructions from the ­onshore gang leaders, they told the crew: 'Tell them to make fire and we go full speed to Sierra Leone.'
They were also told: 'We don't want to make a single dollar profit on this operation', that 'we don't want you to go to jail for nothing', and to go 'full speed'.
Det Supt Halley said it became clear that when an Air Corps helicopter carrying a unit from the ARW approached the vessel, the crew were given instructions to destroy all drugs on board.
Det Supt Halley said it took 'great bravery from the ARW' to land onto the ship and that evasive manoeuvres by the MV Matthew was 'putting their lives in danger'.
The soldiers observed smoke coming from a life raft and extinguished the flames. The ARW took control of the vessel and directed it to Cork.
The court heard Ozgen claimed to have been hired as a cleaner but was staying in the most prestigious quarters on the vessel. He was described as the crime group's 'eyes and ears' on board and was in contact with people in Dubai overseeing the operation every three days.
Ozgen told gardaí that he was to receive a bonus of up to $100,000 (€88,000) for his role. Det Supt Halley agreed with his defence counsel, Brendan Grehan SC, that the people on board were being 'directed from a couple of thousand miles away in Dubai'.
Jelveh told gardaí that he was the captain but that he was in fear of Ozgen who was 'in charge'. Jelveh also said that Ozgen, referred to as 'Dutch Jimmy', was 'placed on board to kill him' and that 'the Dutch guy Cumali had worked for the cartel'.
Jelveh was an experienced seaman who was also a soccer coach in Dubai. Det Supt Halley agreed with defence counsel Michael Bowman that the captain was quite concerned through his detention for his family living in ­Dubai 'once he became aware the drug seizure had taken place'.
Gavryk had been a seaman all his life and the senior investigator agreed with his defence Hugh Hartnett that he was 'at the bottom of the pile' of the criminal enterprise.
He told gardaí he had seen six large white bags on the deck and was told they were spare parts, before saying the captain offered him $5,000 to keep quiet.
Vlasoi is from the Odesa region but moved to Romania after the Russian invasion. He told gardaí he had brought his concerns about the nature of the cargo to the ship's master and was offered a bonus 'in order to keep him quiet'.
Hassani told gardaí that he checked the cargo for damage two days before the vessel was stormed and 'at that point knew it wasn't spare parts'.
He said he was given $20,000 by the captain.
Communications showed he was in contact with the directors of the criminal enterprise on-shore in which he was told he was '100pc' on the next boat. He had also enquired about bringing a firearm on the next voyage.
Estoesta said he was offered a salary of $4,500. Evidence showed he was on the bridge after Jelveh was evacuated from the vessel and was in communication with the Irish Navy when they directed MV Matthew to Cork harbour.
A voice note recovered also showed Estoesta pleading with the Navy not to fire at them and that they were a ­commercial ship, while telling his co-accused to prepare the fire to burn the cocaine.
The sentencing hearing continues before the three-judge court, with Ms Justice Melanie Greally presiding, today.