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Trawler grounded off Wexford

On Sep 24, 2023, the Rosslare RNLI volunteers were mobilised at around 11.30 p.m. to the 'Castlemore', which had grounded off Wexford with two crew on board. They unsuccessfully tried to fire a towline towards the trawler to pull it back into open waters, but with conditions extremely choppy and only two crew aboard, it proved too difficult. At that point, the wind also posed too much of a danger to try to winch the two sailors on board a rescue helicopter. At around 3 a.m. the Irish Navy vessel 'LÉ William Butler Yeats' arrived on scene and kept a close eye on proceedings. Having circled for hours, the Rescue 117 was forced to return to base in Waterford to refuel around half an hour later, but by 4.30 a.m. they were back on scene. By this time, the wind had subsided somewhat and the helicopter crew was able to successfully winch the sailors,. Both the lifeboat and the rescue helicopter left the scene shortly after 6 a.m., while the 'LÉ William Butler Yeats' remained off the Wexford coast overnight. Reports with photos: https://www.sundayworld.com/crime/cocaine-bust-trawler-remains-wedged-on-sandbank-off-wexford-coast/a295844397.html https://www.sundayworld.com/crime/irish-crime/salvage-vessels-arrive-in-bid-to-retrieve-stranded-second-suspected-cocaine-trawler/a1212351453.html https://www.thesun.ie/news/11411181/drugs-trawler-spacex-tech-cocaine-mothership-wexford/ https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-41234347.html

Court hearing: Crew of Matthew and Castlemor were under financial pressure

Several men hired by an international organised crime group in Dubai to crew the bulk carrier 'Matthew' (IMOI: 9228150) were under financial pressure and succumbed to the temptation to earn thousands, the Special Criminal Court in Dublin has heard. Eight men admitted their roles in trying to smuggle cocaine worth over 157 million euros. The Irish Army Ranger Wing has been praised in court for putting their lives at risk when they boarded the vessel in severe weather conditions while the crew attempted to steer the ship to high seas. Six of the men arrested on board the 'Matthew' had ignored repeated warnings from the patrol vessel 'LE William Butler Yeats '. Two other men were rescued from a boat that was bought in Castletownbere, which had been purchased to collect drugs from the main vessel. The Ukrainians Mykhailo Gavryk and Vitaliy Vlasoi, both 32; Iranians Soheil 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 'Mathew' betweenSep 24 and 26, 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 Sep 21 and 25. Jamie Harbron, aged 31, of South Avenue, Billingham in the UK, also pleaded guilty that on a date between Sep 21 and 25, 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. Colman Cody SC, counsel for Lapa, told the sentence hearing that his client was not aware of the full scale of the operation and did not fully understand it or the structures of the criminal organisation. The married father-of-two was told he would be paid 5,000 euros for his involvement in the operation. Lapa had been in the merchant navy and had previously worked on fishing boats. He had recently retired and was a pensioner in Ukraine. The Detective Superintendent Keith Halley agreed that Lapa was at the lower end of the structure. Estoesta was the second officer on board the vessel, who said he had met some of the crew in Venezuela. The court heard how some members of the hired crew were distracted at night while those from the criminal enterprise had loaded some of the cargo containing drugs on to the vessel. They claimed that they had been entertained with alcohol while the so-called spare parts were being transferred onto the ship. Estoesta admitted he was concerned it was more than spare parts, as he saw armed men on the other ship, which was offloading the large cargo. He said he didn't argue as he was terrified and was alone in the ocean. He thought the cargo may have contained contraband, like weapons or cigarettes. His barrister, Michael Hourigan, said that he had a genuine fear of the consequences if he did not follow orders. Vlasoi, a 33-year-old sailor, became involved in the operation after he was contacted when he posted his sailing credentials online. The court heard that he is married with a five-year-old child, who is now living in Ireland with the accused's mother. Paul O'Higgins SC for Vlasoi told the court that his client's realisation of the situation came too late when he discovered that the enterprise was being run at a higher level by people not on the ship. He told gardai that there were outside forces in control. He was told he would be paid 5,000 euros for his part in the operation. Mr O'Higgins said that his client found himself in a vulnerable financial position as he tried to provide for his family during the war in Ukraine. Hassani, the 3ird officer of the bulk carrier, qualified from maritime college in 2009 and had been at sea constantly for over a decade. Mark Lyam SC, for the 40-year-old, told the court he is married with a six-year-old daughter, and that he had financial responsibility to provide for his family, including medical care. Mr Lyam said he succumbed to temptation because of that financial pressure and wanting to spend more time with his family. The court was also told that he sent a text to someone in Dubai thanking them for the opportunity. Hassani, who was airlifted from the boat, was described as being the lowest rank in terms of officers. Meanwhile, Michael O'Higgins SC, counsel for Harbron, described his client as a drug abuser who was induced into the operation to clear a drug debt. Described as being a last-minute entry into the enterprise, he was offered a 10,000 euro reduction on his drug debt of 20,000 euros. The court heard how Harbron, who was on board the second ship, the 'Castlemore', had no sailing experience, was not able to operate the radio and was not able to locate the life vest on board. Mr O'Higgins said he had no role in organising, financing or giving directions. Harbron suspected the cargo on board the 'Matthew' was drugs, but he said he was shocked when he saw the size of it. Brendan Grehan SC, counsel for Dutch national Ozgen, admitted to having loaded three crates of drugs onto the vessel and also played a part in trying to burn drugs by getting paint thinners. He said he expected to earn a bonus of between 50,000 euros and 100,000 euros. Mr Grehan said that Ozgen, who had no sailing experience, has a son with a serious health issue following an operation on a brain tumour, and it was partly the attraction in terms of getting involved in that he would get money to help (his son) out. He was involved in a misguided attempt to get money for his family. Keivon Sotoodeh, junior counsel for Jelveh, told the court that his client is a 51-year-old with two adult children. Mr Sotoodeh said Jelveh was simply following orders and accepts he got himself involved in this. The matter has been put back to July 4. The men have been remanded on the same terms and conditions. Report with photos: https://www.corkbeo.ie/news/local-news/crew-hired-cork-cocaine-ship-31791589