In a landmark case, five individuals are to face the Special Criminal Court, having been issued books of evidence relating to the most substantial drug bust in the country’s history. The seizure, which amounted to over 2.2 tonnes of cocaine worth €157 million, took place at sea, off the coast of eastern Cork, on the MV Matthew during the wee hours of September 26th, 2023.
The five defendants were part of the ship’s crew at the time of the raid by the Army Rangers. They stand accused of plotting with unnamed parties to possess and distribute the cocaine within national borders on September 24th, 2023, and knowingly partaking in criminal operations.
The suspects are Myhailo Gavryk (31), Vitaliy Vlasoi (31), Saeid Hassani (38), Cumali Ozgen (49) and Harold Estoesta (30). Their court appearance was heavily guarded, with each case presented individually to Judge Colm Roberts at Mallow District Court. Detective Garda Mark Donovan from the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau presented the books of evidence to all accused, with interpreters offering linguistic assistance in Russian, Farsi, Dutch and Filipino.
The prosecution, led by Inspector Tony Sullivan, asserts that traditional court procedures lack adequacy for just proceedings in this case, advocating thus for the Special Criminal Court to preside. The defence team, comprising solicitors James McGuill, Elaine Martin, Don Ryan, Aidan Desmond and barrister Ciaran McCarthy, did not oppose the movement for a trial, but each requested free legal aid for their clients.
All defenders submitted requests for a pro bono legal team for each client, comprising a senior advocate, a junior advocate, and a documentary advocate. In a further plea, they requested that the book of evidence is made available in the native languages of their clients, with an interpreter’s help.
Mr McGuill stated that it was critical for his client, Mr Gavryk, to have free legal assistance for a Russian interpreter, given the numerous, approximately 13,000, exhibits included in the file. He further requested complimentary legal assistance for a maritime specialist to scrutinise the MV Matthew.
Judge Roberts had no objection in granting free legal support for a maritime specialist.
He also issued an alibi warning to each of the five defendants. He informed them that, if they intend to use alibi evidence as a defence against the accusations, they must inform the State of this intention within a fortnight.
Judge Roberts extended the five defendants’ detention at Cork Prison and scheduled their next appearance at a Special Criminal Court session.