#Cocaine Seizure

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

MV Matthew crew were no mere cogs — they played a vital role in cocaine trafficking venture
MV Matthew crew were no mere cogs — they played a vital role in cocaine trafficking venture
Guilty pleas reduced their sentences but the Special Criminal Court found the men were more than mere drugs mules

Sat, 05 Jul, 2025

Eight men jailed for 129 years after record €157m cocaine seizure off Cork coast
Eight men jailed for 129 years after record €157m cocaine seizure off Cork coast
Crew members from five countries were sentenced to a combined 129 years following a dramatic army-led raid on a ship linked to a global drug cartel

Fri, 04 Jul, 2025

MV Matthew: How crime gang's ill-prepared crew fell afoul of Ireland's largest cocaine seizure
MV Matthew: How crime gang's ill-prepared crew fell afoul of Ireland's largest cocaine seizure
A poorly-prepared and desperate crew were directed from afar by a sophisticated international crime gang, writes Liz Dunphy

Sat, 07 Jun, 2025

Cocaine stock
Cocaine hauls hit record high for seventh year in a row warns EU drug agency
European Union Drugs Agency highlights surging cocaine seizures, new synthetic threats, and stark warning signs for Ireland

Fri, 06 Jun, 2025

Drugs seizure on cargo ship
Crews 'expendable' in massive cocaine smuggling operation, court hears
A retired Ukrainian fisherman was told he would earn €5k but claimed he did not know it was a drug-trafficking plot for a major organised crime group

Thu, 05 Jun, 2025

Drugs seizure on cargo ship
MV Matthew crew 'terrified' amid chaos of cocaine trafficking operation, court hears
Special Criminal Court hears of activity on board the ship in the hours before Irish Army Rangers stormed it, bringing the criminal operation to a sudden and dramatic end

Wed, 04 Jun, 2025

'This will all be over soon', crime bosses told men before 2.5 tonne cocaine seizure, court hears
'This will all be over soon', crime bosses told men before 2.5 tonne cocaine seizure, court hears
The MV Matthew, owned by a Dubai-based company, was raided at gunpoint by Ireland's elite army ranger wing in September 2023

Tue, 03 Jun, 2025

Men behind largest seizure of cocaine in Irish history to be sentenced in June
Men behind largest seizure of cocaine in Irish history to be sentenced in June
The men were all charged with offences arising from the seizure of 2.25 tonnes of cocaine with an estimated value of more than €157m, which was on board the ship the MV Matthew

Mon, 07 Apr, 2025

Two plead guilty to having 2.2 tonnes of cocaine for supply on board MV Matthew
Two plead guilty to having 2.2 tonnes of cocaine for supply on board MV Matthew
Both men were remanded in custody to February 24 when the court intends to fix a date for their sentencing hearing

Tue, 18 Feb, 2025

Accused was involved in disguising true position of cocaine ship MV Matthew, court told
Accused was involved in disguising true position of cocaine ship MV Matthew, court told
The trial continues next Tuesday, with Ms Justice Melanie Greally presiding over the three-judge court

Thu, 13 Feb, 2025

Messages were sent to MV Matthew to burn €157m of cocaine to prevent discovery, trial told
Messages were sent to MV Matthew to burn €157m of cocaine to prevent discovery, trial told
The court heard that at one point, the messages suggested 'engulfing the lifeboat in flames' to burn the cargo of drugs

Wed, 12 Feb, 2025

Pair played 'essential part' in 'highly professional international drug-trafficking operation', court told
Pair played 'essential part' in 'highly professional international drug-trafficking operation', court told
The two men deny having the 2.2 tonnes of cocaine for sale or supply on board the MV Matthew

Tue, 11 Feb, 2025

Two men deny having 2.2 tonnes of cocaine for supply on board MV Matthew
Two men deny having 2.2 tonnes of cocaine for supply on board MV Matthew
Both are to be tried at the non-jury Special Criminal Court

Mon, 10 Feb, 2025

Four men admit to having 2.2 tonnes of cocaine for supply on board MV Matthew
Four men admit to having 2.2 tonnes of cocaine for supply on board MV Matthew
The Panamanian cargo ship was carrying more than €157 million of cocaine when it was boarded in a dramatic operation by the Army Rangers in September 2023

Thu, 06 Feb, 2025

Packed courtroom as defendants in cocaine haul case await decision on dismissal
Packed courtroom as defendants in cocaine haul case await decision on dismissal
This Section 4E application is likely to take a number of days. If successful, the cases will be dismissed but if they fail, the trial can then commence

Tue, 14 Jan, 2025

Six of seven accused in case involving Ireland's biggest drugs haul apply to dismiss charges
Six of seven accused in case involving Ireland's biggest drugs haul apply to dismiss charges
The court also set a new date regarding the sentencing of Jamie Harbron, 31, in connection with the record cocaine seizure

Mon, 13 Jan, 2025

Seven men charged over Ireland's biggest drugs haul due in court 
Seven men charged over Ireland's biggest drugs haul due in court 
The case involves the dramatic operation whereby warning shots were fired before the elite Army Ranger Wing descended from circling helicopters to storm the MV Matthew off the Cork coast

Mon, 13 Jan, 2025

Man arrested on suspicion of money laundering offences as drugs seized in Co Tipperary
Man arrested on suspicion of money laundering offences as drugs seized in Co Tipperary
Shortly before 9pm on Tuesday, gardaí stopped a vehicle on the M8 near Thurles, and during the course of a search, over €27,000 of cash was discovered

Thu, 12 Dec, 2024

Two arrested following cocaine seizure worth €2.6m in Dublin
Two arrested following cocaine seizure worth €2.6m in Dublin
Shortly after 8.30pm on Wednesday, gardaí intercepted two vehicles in the Swords area and also conducted a search of a home in Shankill

Thu, 28 Nov, 2024

State looking to offload €100,000 a week cost of vessel seized in €157m drugs raid
State looking to offload €100,000 a week cost of vessel seized in €157m drugs raid
The MV Matthew was boarded in a dramatic operation by the Rangers, a specialist wing of the Irish Defence Forces, in September 2023

Mon, 21 Oct, 2024

Cocaine seizure: Country's biggest drug gang hit again 
Cocaine seizure: Country's biggest drug gang hit again 
Revenue intercepted 36kg of cocaine inside a freight unit that disembarked off a ferry in Rosslare Port coming from France.

Fri, 11 Oct, 2024

Dublin Airport drugs operation
Drug couriers 'ingesting cocaine and risking their lives for as little as €1,000'
Customs Revenue have seized €170m worth of drugs this year — up from €75m in the same period in 2023 

Fri, 13 Sep, 2024

Eight men charged over Ireland's biggest drugs haul given Special Criminal Court trial date
Eight men charged over Ireland's biggest drugs haul given Special Criminal Court trial date
Defending barrister Mark Lynam SC said the case was a 'very complicated' one

Mon, 24 Jun, 2024

Revenue seize €105,000 worth of cocaine at Dublin Airport
Revenue seize €105,000 worth of cocaine at Dublin Airport
The illegal drugs were discovered when officers stopped and searched the baggage of a passenger who had disembarked a flight from Paris

Tue, 11 Jun, 2024

Five face Special Criminal Court trial in connection with State's biggest drugs seizure
Five face Special Criminal Court trial in connection with State's biggest drugs seizure
The Book of Evidence contained some 13,000 pages

Tue, 21 May, 2024

Man faces new charge in connection with State's biggest drugs seizure
Man faces new charge in connection with State's biggest drugs seizure
Mr Estoesta was a crew member on the MV Matthew when elite army rangers boarded the moving vessel in stormy waters last September

Mon, 15 Apr, 2024

Four men to be sent for trial in connection with Ireland’s biggest drugs seizure
Four men to be sent for trial in connection with Ireland’s biggest drugs seizure
Charges relate to the seizure of more than 2.2 tonnes of cocaine with an estimated value of more than €157m that was discovered aboard the MV Matthew off the Co Cork coast in September 2023

Tue, 12 Mar, 2024

Man charged in connection with State's biggest drugs seizure further remanded in custody
Man charged in connection with State's biggest drugs seizure further remanded in custody
He is one of five men facing charges after some 2.25 tonnes of cocaine with an estimated value of more then €157 million was seized from the MV Matthew, off the Cork coast in September

Tue, 05 Mar, 2024

Three men charged in connection with State’s biggest drug bust await DPP directions
Three men charged in connection with State’s biggest drug bust await DPP directions
The court heard one of the men may apply for bail on the next court date

Tue, 23 Jan, 2024

Revenue seize €3.4m worth of cocaine at Rosslare in latest haul
Revenue seize €3.4m worth of cocaine at Rosslare in latest haul
More than €3m worth of cocaine has been seized Revenue officials at Rosslare Europort on Friday morning during checks. Officers were risk profiling when they found approximately 49kg of suspected cocaine.

Fri, 12 Jan, 2024

Cocaine worth over €1.1m seized at Dublin Airport
Cocaine worth over €1.1m seized at Dublin Airport
Approximately 16kg of the drug was discovered when officers searched the baggage of a passenger who had travelled from Washington

Thu, 28 Dec, 2023

Man Desperate and Alone
S Mick Clifford: Time to stop criminalising addicts and have a grown-up policy on drugs
After 50 years of dealing with a societal issue through the lens of the criminal justice system, change is not going to be easy — but the Citizens' Assembly has made a good start

Sun, 29 Oct, 2023

Three men charged in connection with €150m cocaine seizure remanded in custody
Three men charged in connection with €150m cocaine seizure remanded in custody
State authorities continue to search the 190-metre bulk cargo vessel, the MV Matthew

Tue, 10 Oct, 2023

Eighth man charged in connection with €150m cocaine seizure claims he is innocent
Eighth man charged in connection with €150m cocaine seizure claims he is innocent
Filipino national told court he was tricked and 'deserve to be freed'

Thu, 05 Oct, 2023

Eighth man due in court in connection with €150m cocaine seizure off Cork coast
Eighth man due in court in connection with €150m cocaine seizure off Cork coast
The man is due to appear before Midleton District Court on Thursday morning

Thu, 05 Oct, 2023

Drugs seizure on cargo ship
Four more men due in court in relation to €150m cocaine seizure off Cork coast
In an update, a garda spokesperson said the arrested men are expected to appear before a sitting of Mallow District Court this

Tue, 03 Oct, 2023

Drugs seizure on cargo ship
Interpol team in Ireland to assist with cocaine investigation
The Interpol team will have a base of operations in the Garda Organised and Serious Crime headquarters in Walter Scott House in Dublin

Tue, 03 Oct, 2023

Stock house building
Letters to the Editor: Ireland's housing crisis is a shortage of political will
One reader says our fundamental problem is not a shortage of housing, while others consider topics including the National Gender Service, and pay and conditions in the Defence Forces 

Tue, 03 Oct, 2023

Third man appears in court after being charged in relation to €150m cocaine seizure
Third man appears in court after being charged in relation to €150m cocaine seizure
Fifty-year-old Soheil Jelveh, an Iranian national of no fixed abode, appeared before Wexford District Court on Monday morning

Mon, 02 Oct, 2023

Drugs seizure on cargo ship
Third man charged in relation to €150m cocaine seizure off Cork coast
The seizure was the largest in the history of the state

Mon, 02 Oct, 2023

Drugs seizure on cargo ship
Eighth man arrested after €150m cocaine seizure off Cork coast
The arrest follows the discovery of more than €150m worth of cocaine on the MV Matthew earlier this week.

Sat, 30 Sep, 2023

Drug gangs feel 'confident' their shipments will get through, according to EU drugs agency
Drug gangs feel 'confident' their shipments will get through, according to EU drugs agency
The 2.25 tonnes of cocaine seized inside a 'mothership' container vessel is the biggest haul of the drug in Ireland, exceeding the 1.5 tonne seizures in 2007 and 2008

Sat, 30 Sep, 2023

Spectacular cocaine seizure shows us the level that drug gangs operate on
Spectacular cocaine seizure shows us the level that drug gangs operate on
The MV Matthew cocaine bust off Ireland's south coast illustrates the sophisticated logistics and vast sums of cash involved in drug trafficking, writes Ann Murphy

Sat, 30 Sep, 2023

Letters to the Editor: Sinn Féin has well earned its place at the political table
Letters to the Editor: Sinn Féin has well earned its place at the political table
Two readers respond to a column about SF in government, while others write about topics including housing, political boycotts, and the recent cocaine seizure off the south coast

Sat, 30 Sep, 2023

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