“A man has been brought to court in connection to the seizure of cocaine worth €157m in Cork, claiming he was simply obeying orders.”

In an unprecedented case, a 30-year-old individual, Harold Estoesta, is the foremost defendant to be sent for a trial by jury related to the most substantial narcotics haul in national history. The seizure consisted of over 2.2 tonnes of cocaine, estimated to be worth around €157 million, ascertained from a cargo ship located off the Cork’s coast.

Mr. Estoesta was part of the team aboard the freight vessel, MV Matthew, when it was apprehended in a combined operation by the army, navy, and customs officials. The arrest took place off the eastern Cork coast in the early hours of 26th September 2023. Mr. Estoesta, a Filipino national, was subsequently apprehended and indicted with a charge of collaborating with others possessing over €13,000 worth of cocaine intended for distribution on 24th September 2023, a breach of Section 15A of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977.

During his indictment, Mr. Estoesta conveyed that he had been following the directives of his superiors and was under the impression that the parcels consisted of spare parts. He expressed his desire to contest the charges, asserting his innocence and right to freedom.

Mr. Estoesta was present in Mallow District Court today, where Sgt Linda O’Leary communicated to Judge John King that the DPP has received instructions concerning the case. The DPP decreed that Mr. Estoesta’s case be trialled at the Circuit Court level before a judge and jury.

Sgt O’Leary requested extended custody until 26th March, to which, as conveyed by David O’Meara, representing Mr. Estoesta, his client agreed. The request was granted by Judge King, with Mr. Estoesta scheduled to return to Mallow District Court for the submission of evidence, although it was conceded that the evidence may not be ready by that date.

Offered interpreting assistance throughout the proceedings, Mr. Estoesta is the sixth crew member of the Panama-originated MV Matthew to be charged related to the significant cocaine discovery aboard the freighter, which was transported to Cork Harbour.

According to Irish legal proceedings, four crew members, including Ukrainians Myhailo Gavryk and Vitaliy Vlasoi, both 30 years old, along with Iranian national Saeid Hassani, 38, and Cumali Ozgen from the Netherlands, 48, were implicated in a conspiracy involving over €13,000 of cocaine. They were charged and held for trafficking or possessing the illegal substance in the nation as of September 24th, 2023.

These individuals were last noted during a hearing at the Mallow District Court on February 13th. The complexity of this cross-border investigation was highlighted by Detective Sergeant Ronan McMorrow of the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, who reported a file numbering 3,000 or more pages. As the case progressed, Judge Colm Roberts granted a state request for a month-long adjournment, to which all accused individuals agreed via their legal representation. They are expected before the Mallow District Court again on March 12th, with Cork Prison providing video link for this purpose.

In a related development, Soheil Jelveh, the captain of the ship, the MV Matthew, and a citizen of Iran, faces charges of cocaine possession, trafficking and importation of the same value into the country on the same date. He is expected back in court, specifically the Wexford District Court, on March 25th.

Two more individuals, Jamie Harbron, a 31-year-old from South Avenue, Billingham, Stockton-on-Tees, England and Ukrainian national, Vitaliy Lapa, 50, of no fixed address, also face similar charges arising from the same Garda investigation that led to their removal by helicopter from the fishing vessel, Castlemore, off Wexford’s coast.

These individuals are accused of an attempt to control a stash of drugs exceeding €13,000 in value for trafficking or possession purposes between September 21st and 25th, 2023. The Wexford District Court expects their appearance again on March 25th for further proceedings.

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