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Eight men sentenced over Ireland's largest cocaine seizure

Kevin Sharkey
BBC News NI Dublin reporter
PA Media Black boat with Matthew in white text, military personnel pictured onboard deckPA Media
The cocaine seized from the MV Matthew, a Panamanian-registered bulk carrier, had an estimated value of more than €157m (£135m)

Eight men have been jailed for their roles in trying to smuggle 2.2 tonnes of cocaine, worth more than €157m (£135m).

The drugs were found off the Irish coast on board Panamanian cargo ship, the MV Matthew, in September 2023.

It was the largest cocaine seizure in Irish history.

The men, who were part of international operation, received sentences varying in length from 13 and a half to 20 years. Six of them had been on board the MV Matthew.

A graphic showing the ship's route between the Republic of Ireland and Wales

The highest jail terms were given to Dutch national Cumali Ozgen, who was jailed for 20 years, and Filipino Harold Estoesta, who was jailed for 18 years.

Iranian Soheil Jelveh was jailed on Friday, for 17 and a half years, Ukranian Vitaliy Vlasoi got 16 and a half years in prison, Iranian Saeid Hassani was jailed for 15 years and Ukrainian Mykhailo Gavryk was sentenced to 14 years in jail.

A judge said a significant aggravating factor in the case was that the attempted importation of the drugs was part of the activity of a cartel which has an international reach with unlimited resources.

The drugs were seized following a joint garda (Irish police), customs and Irish Defence Forces operation in September 2023.

PA Media Army Rangers pictured onboard multiple levels of the MV Matthew, large white multi level decking area with ladders connecting themPA Media
The ship was boarded by the Army Rangers

In February 2025, four men - Gavryk, Vlasoi, Jelveh and Ozgen - pleaded guilty to having 2.2 tonnes of cocaine for supply on board the ship.

Two other defendants - Hassani and Estoesta - had also pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine for sale or supply on board the MV Matthew.

Two other men, who were initially rescued from a trawler which ran aground as it prepared to rendezvous with the MV Matthew mothership, have also been given prison sentences.

Ukrainian national Vitaliy Lapa, 62, with an address at Rudenka, Repina Str in Berdyansk, and UK national Jamie Harbron, 31, of South Avenue, Billingham, County Durham, also pleaded guilty to attempting to possess cocaine for sale or supply in September 2023 in relation to the same shipment.

Vitaliy Lapa was jailed for 14 and a half years and Jamie Harbron was given a prison sentence of 13 and a half years.

AN GARDA SÍOCHÁNA Piles of packages wrapped in black plastic in front of three signs saying 'joint task force' AN GARDA SÍOCHÁNA
The MV Matthew had been tracked by the Irish authorities for a few days before the seizure

Ireland's non-jury Special Criminal Court had previously been told Ozgen was known as "Jimmy", and he was "the eyes and ears of the criminal organisation" while he was on board the ship.

The court also heard that he had admitted to gardaí (Irish police) that he loaded crates of drugs onto the ship, and he tried to burn the drugs when the ship was pursued by the Irish Naval vessel, LE William Butler Yeats.

He also said he was promised €50,000 (£43,000) to €100,000 (£86,000) if the planned smuggling operation was successful, but he received nothing.

How were the drugs seized?

The drugs were intercepted on the MV Matthew in a major multi-agency operation.

An elite military team of Irish Army Rangers abseiled aboard the vessel after it was pursued by the Irish Navy.

The daring interception was conducted in treacherous weather conditions at sea, as the ship engaged in desperate manoeuvres to try to evade capture.

The MV Matthew had departed from Curacao, off the coast of Venezuela, and sailed across the Atlantic before arriving in Irish territorial waters.