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Irish Times
a day ago
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- Irish Times
‘Go like f**k mate': How the MV Matthew ship and a €157 million drugs haul was seized
Vitaliy Lapa and Jamie Harbron were exhausted, sick and terrified as their ship, the Castlemore, lost power and lost communication in a storm off the Irish coast. Harbron, a drug user from Billingham near Middlesbrough in the northeast of England with no seafaring background, had taken the job to help pay a debt. He had been sick since they boarded two days earlier. Lapa (62), the captain and an experienced fisherman from Ukraine, hadn't wanted to use the Castlemore, an Irish ship, for this mission. But under pressure from a Dubai -based criminal who was paying for the vessel, he had agreed to take charge. The plan was that they would meet up with the MV Matthew, a larger bulk carrier that had been loaded with 2.2 tonnes of cocaine on its voyage across the Atlantic. But with no power, wifi or communications, and little clue what they were doing, Lapa and Harbron failed to make the rendezvous and ran aground near the Wexford coast on September 24th, 2022. READ MORE Further details of how the MV Matthew came to be in Irish waters emerged in evidence before the Special Criminal Court during this week's sentencing hearing of eight men who have pleaded guilty to offences arising from the seizure of €157 million worth of drugs on board the bulk carrier. Like Lapa and Harbron on the Castlemore, the crew of the MV Matthew were suffering too on their journey across the Atlantic in September 2022. They had left Venezuela early that month but some on board were surprised when, a few days into the voyage, they stopped to take on what they were told were spare parts. Harold Estoesta, a 31-year-old Filipino and the second officer on the MV Matthew, later described to gardaí how the cargo was loaded from another boat by crane after ordinary members of the crew had been plied with alcohol. Estoesta's concerns were heightened, he said, when he saw the crew of the other boat armed with guns. When he expressed misgivings, he was told he would get a bonus to keep his concerns to himself. The Naval Service considered using the deck-mounted gun to fire on the MV Matthew but paused when they learned the Army rangers were on their way Soheil Jelveh (52), an Iranian, was the captain of the MV Matthew but he told gardaí that his instructions came from a figure in Dubai, referred to as Captain Noah. Jelveh had retired as a sea captain in 2019 to prioritise his work as a soccer coach and it was through coaching that he came into contact with individuals from Dubai. His own barrister counsel told the court this week that these people 'wined and dined him' and promised to help him to buy a sports bar in the Emirate city, where he could live with his family. They brought his wife and son to Dubai as part of the deal. But with Jelveh at sea, he would claim that he began to feel he had been 'violated'. He worried about his family in Dubai and said that he came to believe that the Dubai 'cartel' had placed one of the crew on board to kill him. As the MV Matthew crossed the Atlantic, preparations were under way in Ireland. A man referred to as a 'person of interest' in the investigation, who has since moved to Dubai, met Lapa in Newry. They picked up Harbron in Dublin and travelled to Castletownbere in west Cork to meet a man who had advertised the Castlemore for sale. But Lapa wasn't happy. The engine did not have the capacity or speed for what was required, he complained. The seller of the vessel would tell gardaí that despite Lapa's concerns, his companion from Dubai ordered him to buy the boat. A wifi router was placed on board so Lapa and Harbron could communicate with people onshore and use a group chat for further instructions from Dubai. The Castlemore set out from the south coast on Friday, September 22nd with regular communications about where, when and how it would receive the cargo from the MV Matthew. Four to six 'jumbo bags' would be lowered by rope. 'It be a lot but just go like f**k mate. Tuck away. Proportion it on each side so balanced,' one message read. By Saturday, the weather was getting stormier and so was Jelveh's mood. It became apparent that the Castlemore was having problems getting on the internet and couldn't communicate. The Castlemore missed the first rendezvous and the winds grew stronger. Jelveh sent messages to the group saying the drop would not be possible because of the weather and he complained about trying to meet another vessel in the Irish Sea. 'You will drag me all the way here in the storm. Here it is not possible. I begged you to go to the Mediterranean ... low pressure here all the time,' he said in one message. Captain Noah finally had enough and messaged the crew to say he was taking over. 'Please comply with all instructions,' he said. On the afternoon of September 24th, the Castlemore, having run aground, sent a distress call to the coast guard. The MV Matthew was monitoring the frequencies and by midnight they were exchanging messages about the stricken Castlemore. But the Dubai organisation was not deterred. They deleted the Castlemore phone from the group chat and told the MV Matthew crew to expect a different boat. Jelveh had had enough. He contacted the lifeguard requesting a medical evacuation and a helicopter came to airlift him away. He brought with him two suitcases. When gardaí searched them, they found mobile phones and a satellite phone with incriminating communications between the MV Matthew, the Castlemore and Dubai. They also found more than $52,000 (€45,500) in cash. The phones confirmed for gardaí that the drugs were still on board the MV Matthew and they decided it was time to move. At 4.52am on September 26th, the Naval Service vessel, the LE William Butler Yeats, approached the MV Matthew and ordered it to proceed to port. The MV Matthew responded that they had engine difficulties and would be remaining at anchor for two days while Estoesta relayed everything that was said back to the organised crime group in Dubai. The Dubai organisation provided inaccurate AI-generated legal advice telling the MV Matthew that the Irish authorities were not allowed to board. 'Don't lose confidence,' the Dubai-based gang said. At 12.11pm, it became apparent the MV Matthew was not moving towards Cork but was heading for international waters. An Irish Naval Service commander took over and the LE William Butler Yeats officially became a warship. The commander escalated the warnings and fired three times. Estoesta responded by saying the crew have families and 'don't like problems'. 'We don't like problems either,' the commander responded. 'We want you to comply with our instructions.' [ Cocaine cited as main drug in almost two-fifths of cases needing treatment Opens in new window ] The Naval Service considered using the deck-mounted gun to fire on the MV Matthew but paused when they learned the Army rangers were on their way. Estoesta reported the warning shots to Dubai and was initially told to keep the drugs on board and 'go full speed'. As it became clear the naval vessel was not letting them go, the order came to put the drugs in a lifeboat, set them on fire and head for Sierra Leone in west Africa. 'We don't want a single dollar profit ... we don't want you to go to jail for nothing,' came the message from Dubai. They told Estoesta to stay calm. There was, they said, 'no helicopter, no commando, be confident, there is a law preventing them boarding the ship'. Estoesta ordered the crew to set the drugs on fire using diesel, gasoline or paint thinners. Some of the cocaine seized from the MV Matthew. Photograph: An Garda Siochana/PA Wire From Dubai, another message read: 'Don't let them communicate with you. Put the lifeboat on fire and f**k it. Otherwise, good luck.' Estoesta was following the orders from Dubai when a helicopter appeared. He photographed it and uploaded the image to the group. But there was no more advice from Dubai. Using rope ladders, the rangers climbed down to the ship while the MV Matthew manoeuvred in an unsuccessful bid to prevent them safely boarding. Det Supt Keith Halley would tell the Special Criminal Court that it took 'great bravery' for the soldiers to board. They extinguished the fire, preserving the cocaine for evidence and displayed their wide-ranging skill when one of the rangers, an experienced seaman, steered the vessel to Cork harbour. [ Irish Army rangers risked their lives in boarding cargo ship carrying cocaine, court hears Opens in new window ] Eight men now face lengthy prison sentences for their roles in the attempted shipment of €157 million worth of cocaine across the Atlantic. Ukrainians Mykhailo Gavryk (32) and Vitaliy Vlasoi (33); Iranians Soheil Jelveh (52) and Saeid Hassani (40); Filipino Harold Estoesta (31) and Dutch national Cumali Ozgen (50) have pleaded guilty to charges that between September 24th and 26th, 2023, at locations outside the State, on board the MV Matthew they possessed cocaine for sale or supply, in contravention of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations. Ukrainian national Vitaliy Lapa (62), with an address at Rudenka, Repina Str in Berdyansk, and Jamie Harbron (31) of South Avenue, Billingham in the UK have pleaded guilty that between September 21st and 25th, 2023 they attempted to possess cocaine for sale or supply, in contravention of the Misuse of Drugs Act. The operation to intercept the shipment was part of a transnational effort targeting international criminal organisations, Det Supt Halley told the court this week. Several people of interest remain under investigation. [ How cocaine became Ireland's biggest drug problem Opens in new window ] Ms Justice Melanie Greally, sitting with Judge Sarah Berkeley and Judge Gráinne Malone, in the Special Criminal Court will deliver the men's sentences on July 4th.
BreakingNews.ie
2 days ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Drugs shipment crew were 'completely expendable', garda says
Two men who were to take 2.25 tonnes of cocaine from the MV Matthew and bring it to the UK were so expendable that when their ship ran aground in rough seas, their employers deleted them from a group chat and planned to complete the operation without them, the Special Criminal Court has heard. Det Superintendent Keith Halley told the three-judge court that Englishman Jamie Harbron was on the "lowest rung" in the criminal enterprise to transport the massive drugs haul across the Atlantic, into Europe. Advertisement Harbron was hired as a deck hand on board the Castlemore, an Irish ship which was supposed to meet the MV Matthew and take the drugs to the UK, the detective said Under cross-examination, Det Halley told Harbron's defence counsel, Michael O'Higgins SC, that Harbron's jobs appeared to include "greasing things up" or tidying the ship. He did not appear to be a "competent or good deck hand," Supt Halley said. He could not operate the radio, find the life vests or secure a tow rope thrown from a coastguard boat in an attempt to rescue the vessel. Having been on rough seas from Friday afternoon until Sunday evening, Harbron was "very sick" and told gardai he believed he was going to die. Harbron was finally winched to safety by a coastguard helicopter and was "very, very grateful" to his rescuers, the Superintendent said. Advertisement When the Dubai-based organisers of the criminal enterprise realised the Castlemore had run aground, they initially told the ship's captain, Vitaliy Lapa, not to call the coastguard. They then removed the Castlemore from the virtual chat room used to communicate with the vessels and told the MV Matthew they would find another boat to make the rendezvous. Supt Halley agreed that this indicated Harbron and Lapa were "completely expendable". Harbron appeared to have become involved in the plot at the last minute and had told gardai that he was promised €10,000 would be wiped off a €20,000 drug debt. Lapa, the detective said, speaks no English and the two men communicated using Google Translate. The Dubai-based leadership had an "erroneous belief" that the messages they had sent to the Castlemore would automatically delete after one hour, Supt Halley said. Advertisement However, gardaí retrieved the messages, which were used as part of the evidence in the case. Eight men have pleaded guilty to offences arising from the seizure of €157 million worth of drugs on board the MV Matthew. Members of the Irish Army Rangers wing of the Defence Forces boarded the ship on September 26th, 2022 in a daring mission in rough seas as the MV Matthew manoeuvred to try to evade capture. The ship had departed from Curacao, off the Venezuelan coast and sailed across the Atlantic before arriving in Irish territorial waters. Lenient sentencing Ukrainians Mykhailo Gavryk (32) and Vitaliy Vlasoi (33); Iranians Soheil Jelveh (52) and Saeid Hassani (40); Filipino Harold Estoesta (31) and Dutch national Cumali Ozgen (50) pleaded guilty that between September 24th and 26th 2023, both dates inclusive, at locations outside the State, on board the vessel "MV Matthew" they possessed cocaine for sale or supply, in contravention of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations. Advertisement Ukrainian national Vitaliy Lapa (62), with an address at Rudenka, Repina Str in Berdyansk, and Jamie Harbron (31) of South Avenue, Billingham in the UK pleaded guilty that on dates between September 21st and 25th, 2023 they attempted to possess cocaine for sale or supply, in contravention of the Misuse of Drugs Act. Lawyers for all eight asked the court to be as lenient as possible in sentencing. For mitigation, they rely on their guilty pleas and the fact that their time in prison will be spent in a foreign country away from their families. None of those before the court were the leaders of the criminal organisation involved in transporting the drugs but were hired to perform specific roles on the two ships, lawyers said. The only defendant with a record of offending is Jamie Harbron, whose convictions include cannabis and cocaine possession in the UK. Lawyers for the others submitted that their clients were of good character before this offence, but they "succumbed" to temptation, hoping to resolve various financial difficulties. Advertisement Brendan Grehan SC, for Kumali Ozgen, said his client's job on board the MV Matthew was to "mind the cargo". He was, counsel said, the "eyes and ears" of those directing the operation from Dubai and had no seafaring experience. Ozgen admitted to gardai that he loaded crates of drugs onto the ship and used paint thinners to try to burn the drugs when the Irish Navy began its pursuit. He also said he was to be paid €50,000 to €100,000 if successful, but has received nothing. Mr Grehan said Ozgen took the job in a "misguided attempt" to provide for his family, in particular his son, who suffers from poor health. Hugh Hartnett SC, for Gavryk, said his client was of excellent character before this offence. Michael Hourigan SC, for Estoesta, said his client had provided gardai with valuable information, including that when the drugs were loaded onto the MV Matthew, ordinary crew members were plied with alcohol to distract them. Mark Lynam SC for Hassani, said this was the first time his client was involved in "anything of this kind". He had been a sailor of good character all his life but "succumbed to temptation", believing the money from this job would allow him to spend more time with his wife and family. Colman Cody SC, for Lapa, said his client was a hard-working, law-abiding citizen and a loving husband and father. Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Lapa found himself in a "vulnerable financial position". Despite having retired as a fishing captain, he was compelled to go abroad to provide for his family. "He was vulnerable to certain pressures, and that ought to be taken into account," counsel said. Paul O'Higgins SC, for Vlasoi, said his client was the first officer on the boat but had led a blameless life before. He had limited knowledge of the operation, counsel said. Keivon Sotoodeh BL, for Jelveh, said his client was the captain of the MV Matthew but was acting on orders from Dubai. The court previously heard that Jelveh became frustrated with the instructions he was receiving and called the coastguard for an emergency medical evacuation. A coastguard helicopter lifted Jelveh from the MV Matthew before the ship was engaged by Irish Naval vessel the LE William Butler Yeats. Ms Justice Melanie Greally, sitting with Judge Sarah Berkeley and Judge Grainne Malone, will deliver the sentences on July 4th.
