Four Men Plead Guilty In Relation To Largest Cocaine Seizure In Irish History

Thursday, 6 February 2025 14:46

By Martin Osborne

On the 26th of September 2023, the MV Matthew, a Panamanian-flagged cargo ship, was boarded by Irish Army Rangers.

Four men have admitted their roles in what was the largest seizure of cocaine in the history of the State.

Over €157m worth of the drug was recovered when specialist soldiers from the Irish Army Rangers boarded the MV Matthew in September 2023.

On the 26th of September 2023, the MV Matthew, a Panamanian-flagged cargo ship, was boarded by Irish Army Rangers.

Six men were due to stand trial for various drug offences but today four of them pleaded guilty.

Cumali Ozgen, a 49-year-old Dutch national; 51-year-old Soheil Jelveh, from Iran; and Ukrainian nationals, Mykhailo Gavryk and Vitaliy Vlasoi, both aged 32, pleaded guilty to having cocaine in their possession for sale or supply at locations outside the State and onboard the MV Matthew between the 24th and 26th of September 2023.

The four men, along with two others, will be sentenced at a later date.

Meanwhile, the remaining two accused men are due to stand trial on Monday.

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