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Belfast Telegraph
03-06-2025
- General
- Belfast Telegraph
Captain of MV Matthew carrying 2.2 tonnes of cocaine ‘feared for his life'
A retired marine engineer who was captain of the MV Matthew while it was carrying more than 2.2 tonnes of cocaine claimed that he feared for his life and his family if he did not follow instructions, a court has heard. Iranian Soheil Jelveh, 51, said there was an element of fear on board the vessel, and admitted he was aware that the consignment on the ship was not 'spare parts'. He said that he was captain in name but he had to follow orders like everyone else. The non-jury Special Criminal Court in Dublin was told on Tuesday that he was in fear of being killed and that his family, who were in Dubai, would also be killed. The court was also told that a number of the crew were hired by a transnational organised crime group for the operation. Jelveh is one of seven men charged with offences arising from the seizure of 2.25 tonnes of cocaine with an estimated value of more than 157 million euros (£132 million), which was on board the ship the MV Matthew, a Panamanian-registered bulk carrier. Ukrainians Mykhailo Gavryk, and Vitaliy Vlasoi, both 32; Iranians Jelveh and Saeid Hassani, 39; Filipino Harold Estoesta, 31, and Dutch national Cumali Ozgen, 49, all pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine for sale or supply on board the MV Mathew between 24 and 26 September 2023. Ukrainian national Vitaliy Lapa, aged 62, with an address at Rudenka, Repina Str in Berdyansk, pleaded guilty to attempting to possess cocaine for sale or supply between 21 and 25 September 2023. Jamie Harbron, aged 31, of South Avenue, Billingham in the UK, also pleaded guilty that on a date between September 21 and September 25, 2023, both dates inclusive, he attempted to have cocaine in his possession for the purpose of sale or supply, an offence under the Misuse of Drugs Act. Detective Superintendent Keith Halley told the court in Dublin that messages sent to crew members of the MV Matthew told them to consider moving the bags containing drugs on to a lifeboat and then release it into the sea as Irish authorities got closer to the vessel. The court heard that Ozgen, who was described in court by his barrister Brendan Grehan as having a lack of sea experience, was to go into the lifeboat with 22 tonnes of drugs in 'one of the worst storms'. Six men who were arrested on board ignored instructions from the LE William Butler Yeats naval vessel a number of times. Detective Halley, who was a Revenue Customs liaison for Irish police, gave evidence that the authorities received information about a fishing trawler being used to import drugs, which led to the formation of a joint task force between gardai, the Revenue Customs Service and the Irish Naval Service. Jelveh, a father of two, claimed he felt violated by people in the 'head office' who were not present on the vessel, and that there was a threat over him that was not there in relation to his co-accused. Jelveh qualified as a maritime engineer in 1997 and worked as a marine engineer until 2008 and moved through the ranks to became first deck officer. He became captain in 2019. He had since retired and was working as a football coach. Prosecution barrister John Berry SC told the court that the crew had attempted to set the drugs on fire as they attempted to flee Irish authorities and head into the high seas. Messages discovered in a WhatsApp group, called The Deck Officers, revealed how the crew was instructed to be ready to burn the cargo and head towards Sierra Leone if a helicopter tried to intercept the ship. The crew were told to 'make sure everything is burnt' and to use paint thinner to set the cargo alight. They were also ordered by people not on board the vessel not to communicate with Irish authorities. The crew had been ordered by authorities to steer the vessel towards the Irish coast and dock at Cork. The court heard that they were willing to comply with the instructions, however, they were going full steam ahead to the high seas and were planning on travelling to Sierra Leone. The court was told that the crew had been making efforts to deter the arrival of the Army Ranger Wing to allow for the removal of the drugs. Footage and photographs shown to the court revealed there was smoke coming from the lifeboat after an attempt was made to set the drugs alight. Cans of paint, used to set it on fire, were also found on the life raft. Detective Halley also told the court today that the people instructing the crew had 'immense capabilities, unlimited resources and a global reach'. He said it became apparent through the message groups that those who were controlling the vessel and sending instructions on what to do were based in Dubai. They had sent messages instructing the crew to keep going, including reassuring messages like 'just relax and this will all be over soon'. They also gave the wrong information that Irish authorities could not board the vessel. The sentence hearing is taking place before Ms Justice Melanie Grealy Judge Sarah Berkeley and Judge Grainne Malone. The sentencing hearing continues on Wednesday.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Captain of MV Matthew carrying 2.2 tonnes of cocaine ‘feared for his life'
A retired marine engineer who was captain of the MV Matthew while it was carrying more than 2.2 tonnes of cocaine claimed that he feared for his life and his family if he did not follow instructions, a court has heard. Iranian Soheil Jelveh, 51, said there was an element of fear on board the vessel, and admitted he was aware that the consignment on the ship was not 'spare parts'. He said that he was captain in name but he had to follow orders like everyone else. The non-jury Special Criminal Court in Dublin was told on Tuesday that he was in fear of being killed and that his family, who were in Dubai, would also be killed. The court was also told that a number of the crew were hired by a transnational organised crime group for the operation. Jelveh is one of seven men charged with offences arising from the seizure of 2.25 tonnes of cocaine with an estimated value of more than 157 million euros (£132 million), which was on board the ship the MV Matthew, a Panamanian-registered bulk carrier. Ukrainians Mykhailo Gavryk, and Vitaliy Vlasoi, both 32; Iranians Jelveh and Saeid Hassani, 39; Filipino Harold Estoesta, 31, and Dutch national Cumali Ozgen, 49, all pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine for sale or supply on board the MV Mathew between 24 and 26 September 2023. Ukrainian national Vitaliy Lapa, aged 62, with an address at Rudenka, Repina Str in Berdyansk, pleaded guilty to attempting to possess cocaine for sale or supply between 21 and 25 September 2023. Jamie Harbron, aged 31, of South Avenue, Billingham in the UK, also pleaded guilty that on a date between September 21 and September 25, 2023, both dates inclusive, he attempted to have cocaine in his possession for the purpose of sale or supply, an offence under the Misuse of Drugs Act. Detective Superintendent Keith Halley told the court in Dublin that messages sent to crew members of the MV Matthew told them to consider moving the bags containing drugs on to a lifeboat and then release it into the sea as Irish authorities got closer to the vessel. The court heard that Ozgen, who was described in court by his barrister Brendan Grehan as having a lack of sea experience, was to go into the lifeboat with 22 tonnes of drugs in 'one of the worst storms'. Six men who were arrested on board ignored instructions from the LE William Butler Yeats naval vessel a number of times. Detective Halley, who was a Revenue Customs liaison for Irish police, gave evidence that the authorities received information about a fishing trawler being used to import drugs, which led to the formation of a joint task force between gardai, the Revenue Customs Service and the Irish Naval Service. Jelveh, a father of two, claimed he felt violated by people in the 'head office' who were not present on the vessel, and that there was a threat over him that was not there in relation to his co-accused. Jelveh qualified as a maritime engineer in 1997 and worked as a marine engineer until 2008 and moved through the ranks to became first deck officer. He became captain in 2019. He had since retired and was working as a football coach. Prosecution barrister John Berry SC told the court that the crew had attempted to set the drugs on fire as they attempted to flee Irish authorities and head into the high seas. Messages discovered in a WhatsApp group, called The Deck Officers, revealed how the crew was instructed to be ready to burn the cargo and head towards Sierra Leone if a helicopter tried to intercept the ship. The crew were told to 'make sure everything is burnt' and to use paint thinner to set the cargo alight. They were also ordered by people not on board the vessel not to communicate with Irish authorities. The crew had been ordered by authorities to steer the vessel towards the Irish coast and dock at Cork. The court heard that they were willing to comply with the instructions, however, they were going full steam ahead to the high seas and were planning on travelling to Sierra Leone. The court was told that the crew had been making efforts to deter the arrival of the Army Ranger Wing to allow for the removal of the drugs. Footage and photographs shown to the court revealed there was smoke coming from the lifeboat after an attempt was made to set the drugs alight. Cans of paint, used to set it on fire, were also found on the life raft. Detective Halley also told the court today that the people instructing the crew had 'immense capabilities, unlimited resources and a global reach'. He said it became apparent through the message groups that those who were controlling the vessel and sending instructions on what to do were based in Dubai. They had sent messages instructing the crew to keep going, including reassuring messages like 'just relax and this will all be over soon'. They also gave the wrong information that Irish authorities could not board the vessel. The sentence hearing is taking place before Ms Justice Melanie Grealy Judge Sarah Berkeley and Judge Grainne Malone. The sentencing hearing continues on Wednesday.
Irish Times
28-05-2025
- General
- Irish Times
Heroin, cocaine ‘worth €5.4 million' seized in Co Meath
Two men have been arrested in Co Meath following the seizure of drugs estimated to be worth about €5.4 million. Some 20kg of heroin and 37kg of cocaine were seized following a joint operation conducted by Revenue Customs officials and the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau. The estimated value of the seizure is €5,390,000. The two men arrested, aged in their 60s, are being held at a Garda station in Meath under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice Drug Trafficking Act 1996. READ MORE A Garda spokesperson said investigations are ongoing.
Sunday World
06-05-2025
- Sunday World
Man who helped Brazilian cartel smuggle huge €21.6m cocaine shipment into Ireland jailed
LOCKED UP | Nikola Penchev (34) of Veliki, Preslav, Bulgaria, pleaded guilty at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court Nikola Penchev Nikola Penchev (34) of Veliki, Preslav, Bulgaria, pleaded guilty at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court to possessing cocaine worth over €21.6million, for sale or supply, at Foynes Port, Co Limerick, on December 19, 2023. Penchev, a maritime engineer, was arrested after Revenue Customs officials and Gardai, acting on a tip-off that the drugs were on board the ship, the MV Verila, searched the vessel and found the cocaine haul tied together in several bales attached to a transmitter. The ship initially set sail from Hamilton, Canada, to Santos Brazil, before reverting to Hamilton and eventually onto Foynes in County Limerick. The Maltese vessel MV Verila Penchev, who joined the ship on its second voyage out of Hamilton had initially been unaware it was carrying cocaine. While on route to Foynes Port, Penchev was recruited by another of the ship's crew, his friend and fellow Bulgarian national, Kamen Petkov (37) to help him dump the cocaine in parcels at Glin, a few kilometers out from Foynes. Detective Garda Adrian Cahill, Limerick Garda Divisional Drugs Unit, gave evidence in court that unidentified parties used small boats to ferry the cocaine bales to Petkov at Santos Port while the rest of the ship's crew were asleep. Petkov, who was previously jailed for ten years after he also pleaded guilty to having the cocaine haul for sale or supply, was responsible for loading the drugs on board, tying the drug parcels together with life jackets and attaching a transmitter, and he kept in regular contact with the cartel via a satellite phone and a navigation app 'OsmAnd'. Petkov and Penchev ended up not dumping the drugs overboard at Glin as nobody appeared to be there to collect the packages when the ship arrived at the drop-off point. Drug detector dog Harley guards the 300kg illegal cocaine haul seized off a cargo ship at the Port of Foynes in Co Limerick (Pic: @gardainfo) Gardaí said Petkov told them that he was to be paid €150,000 for helping the gang, but he ended up not receiving any payment. Penchev told gardaí Petkov told him he would pay him €10,000 for helping him, but he too did not receive any of the money. Prosecuting barrister Lily Buckley BL said Petkov told Penchev that if they lost the drugs, their lives would be under threat from 'dangerous people'. Kamen Petkov Penchev, who is married with two children, told gardai he only helped Petkov because he was 'afraid' of what the consequences would be for him and his family had he not helped. During the sailing, Penchev and Petkov took photos of the drug bales and sent the mobile phone snaps to the gang to prove the drugs were still on board the ship. Penchev's barrister told the court that he was not the instigator, that he was remorseful, and that he was a good, loving father and husband. Judge Daly said: 'Cocaine is a very serious and highly addictive drug, and the accused allowed himself to become involved in the international carrying of a serious amount of drugs.' The judge said he was satisfied that a headline prison sentence of 13 years was 'appropriate… this being a high-level commercial drug dealing operation'. Nikola Penchev News in 90 Seconds - Tuesday, May 6th Judge Daly said Penchev's 'early guilty plea', and his 'cooperation' with the garda investigation allowed it 'to proceed with greater speed and efficiency' However the judge said that, because Penchev involved himself in 'trafficking such a large volume of drugs half way around the world, the principle of deterrence generally, prevents me considering sentencing below the presumptive minimum in the case, and so I reduce the sentence to one of ten years'. The sentence was backdated to December 24, 2023, when Penchev first entered into custody following his arrest. The court heard the garda investigation into the cocaine seizure remains 'ongoing'.
