MATTHEW TT

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Court hearing: Crew of Matthew were under financial pressure

Several men hired by an international organised crime group in Dubai to crew he 'Matthew' 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 f/v 'Castlemore' (MMSI: 25000435), 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

Captain of the Matthew ‘feared for his life

On June 3, 2025, Iranian Soheil Jelveh, 51, a retired marine engineer who was captain of the '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. He 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 that he was in fear of being killed and that his family, who were in Dubai, would also be killed and 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, which was on board the ship. 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 'Mathew' between Sep 24 and Sep 26, 2023. The 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 Sep 25, 2023. Jamie Harbron, aged 31, of South Avenue, Billingham in the UK, also pleaded guilty that on a date between September 21st and Sep 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. 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 patrol vessel 'LE William Butler Yeats' 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 was 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 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 told the court that the people instructing the crew had “immense capabilities, unlimited resources and a global reach”. 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 continued on June 4.

Accused was involved in disguising true position of cocaine ship

An officer of the 'Matthew' was involved in a group effort to disguise the vessel's true position, the Special Criminal Court has heard. The Filipino Harold Estoesta, aged 31, and Iranian Saeid Hassani, aged 39, have denied having the cocaine for sale or supply on board the ship. The 2.25 tonnes of cocaine has an estimated value of more than €157 million. The court previously heard that while the 'Matthew' was sailing under the flag of Panama, it was owned by a Dubai-based company known as 'Symphony Marine'. It departed from Curacao, off the Venezuelan coast and sailed across the Atlantic before arriving in Irish territorial waters. The Prosecution counsel, Sean Guerin SC, said there would be evidence that the men had given direction to others in the preparation for the physical transfer of the drugs from the the 'Matthew' onto 'The Castlemore'. The State alleges both accused were in a Deck Officers WhatsApp group and the case against them relates to communications about the transportation of the drugs and the concealment of those activities from others. At the Special Criminal Court on Feb 13, the evidence continued of Gary Delaney, a retired naval officer with 40 years’ experience in land and marine surveying. The court previously heard that he inspected the systems used by the 'Matthew' to work out the ship’s navigation and route. The Counsel for the State, John Berry SC, referenced a phone taken from Mr Hassani that contained messages to the WhatsApp group known as The Deck Officers. Mr Delaney confirmed that these messages showed that Mr Estoesta was aware of efforts by people on board the ship to use the AIS to simulate the vessel’s position. As the ship approached Irish waters, there was no actual evidence of a simulated position but an absence of any position. The AIS did not provide any information, which he attributed to an uncertainty by those on board about which route to take. There was an update on Sep 23, 2023, to the AIS records showing a change of destination from Gdansk to Belfast. Just after midnight on Sep 24, the AIS sent a message that the ship was "NUC". Two hours later, the AIS status was changed to indicate the vessel was underway using its engine. The vessel’s destination was then changed from Belfast to Cork. Mr Delaney previously gave evidence that in Aug 2023, there was a divergence between where the 'Matthew' actually was and what it was broadcasting its position as. From Aug 22 to Sep 7, the vessel reported itself as doing a perfect circle off the coast of Guyana, but the ECDIS showed it was off the coast of Venezuela. Mr Delaney said that in the real world, ships do not do perfect circles without dynamic positioning systems, something that the 'Matthew' did not have. Mr Hassani and Mr Estoesta are charged that on Sep 24, 2023, on board the vessel within the territorial sea of the State, they had in their possession controlled drugs, namely cocaine, for the purpose of selling or otherwise supplying the drug to another in contravention of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations, 2017 to 2023, made under section 5 of the Misuse of Drugs Act, 1977 and at the time while the drug was in their possession the market value of the controlled drug amounted to €13,000 or more. They are also charged with the possession of cocaine for sale or supply to a value of €13,000 or more between September 24 and 26, 2023, both dates inclusive, at locations outside the State, on board the vessel- Each man also faces a third charge that on Sep 24, 2023, within the State, with knowledge of the existence of a criminal organisation, he participated in or contributed to activity intending to, or being reckless as to whether such participation or contribution could, facilitate the commission of a serious offence by that criminal organisation or any of its members. The trial will be continued on Feb 18. Four co-accused — Ukrainians Mykhailo Gavryk, aged 32, and Vitaliy Vlasoi, aged 32, Iranian Soheil Jelveh, aged 51, and Dutch national Cumali Ozgen, aged 49 — last week pleaded guilty to similar offences connected to the seizure. Report with photos: https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/courtandcrime/arid-41574157.html