GARDAI are working to nail the Irish gangsters involved in the attempt to smuggle €157 million of cocaine into the country as their underlings were locked up for a combined 129 years.
The eight men involved in the massive botched drug trafficking operation were handed down sentences of 13.5 to 20 years at the Special Criminal Court today over Ireland’s record seizure of the drug.
The Irish Sun can reveal detectives are ploughing ahead with the investigation of those involved in mostly “hands off” roles and higher up the chain in the plot.
This includes an Irish suspect who helped acquire the second ship which was planned to meet the MV Matthew for a transfer of the drugs.
He also issued the two men in charge of this “sistership”, named The Castlemore, with instructions using the handle “Rain Man” on messaging groups.
It’s understood that this man fled to Dubai after the operation was smashed by Irish authorities.
A source told The Irish Sun: “There are a number of individuals involved who worked higher up in the operation.
“A cell structure was used to specifically protect those people. But the gardai’s investigations into them are very much ongoing.”
The 2.2 tonnes of coke were intercepted and seized in September 2023 by a joint garda, Revenue and Defence Forces operation after army rangers forcibly boarded a cargo ship.
The six men onboard the MV Matthew, a Panamanian cargo ship, were hired in Dubai by a transnational organised crime group.
They then flew to South America ahead of embarking on the international drug operation, heading from Venezuela in early September 2023 before collecting the coke at sea and making their way across the Atlantic.
The MV Matthew ignored instructions from the LE William Butler Yeats naval vessel five times before it was stormed by Irish Navy Rangers on September 26 that year.
The original plan was that the MV Matthew would deliver the drugs to the second ship, the Castlemore.
But rough seas and a number of difficulties caused the vessel to miss the connection and later to run aground on the coast of Wexford.
The six on the MV Matthew all pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine for sale or supply between 24 and 26 September 2023.
At sentencing, Dutch native Cumali Ozgen, 49, was jailed for 20 years after the court heard he was the OCG’s “eyes and ears” on board.
He was in communication with his bosses in the UAE every two to three days and was set to get a €50,000 bonus if they were successful.
Filipino Harold Estoesta, 31, was caged for 18 years after he engaged with the coast guard on the MV Matthew saying they would comply with orders to head towards Cork Port while attempting to flee towards international waters.
He also ordered for the drugs – which were in a lifeboat – to be set alight.
The Iranian captain of the ship and qualified maritime engineer Soheil Jelveh was handed down a 17.5 year sentence.
He feigned an injury and was winched by the Coast Guard from the MV Matthew before the intervention by Irish authorities.
He had two suitcases, four phones including a satellite mobile and $53,298 in cash when taken away.
‘VIGOROUS ATTEMPTS TO EVADE’
Ukrainian Vitaliy Vlasoi, 33, who made “vigorous attempts to evade” authorities on the boat as well as destroy drugs for criminal organisation was jailed for 16.5 years.
His fellow countryman Mykhailo Gavryk, 32, received 14 years’ imprisonment after he admitted to moving the drugs on board the ship as he claimed he was “following instructions”, but cops accept he knew the least about the overall operation.
Saeid Hassani, 40, who was the third officer, received a 15-year sentence.
Two other men, who were on the boat the Castlemore that had been purchased in Castletownbere to collect drugs from the main vessel, were also sentenced for attempting to possess cocaine for sale or supply.
‘MESSAGE IS CLEAR’
Ukrainian national Vitaliy Lapa, 62, with an address at Rudenka, Repina Str in Berdyansk, received a sentence of 14.5 years while Jamie Harbron, 31, from Billingham in the UK, got 13.5 years.
Detective Superintendent Joe O’Reilly from the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau said: “To those involved in drug trafficking the message is clear, the full force of the Irish State supported by our international partners is against you.
“The reality facing you is security interdictions, special investigations, the Special Criminal Court, lengthy sentences and asset seizure.”
