Eighth man charged in connection with €150m cocaine seizure claims he is innocent
Harold Estoesta, who appeared at the district court in Midleton, Co Cork. Picture: Dan Linehan
An eighth man charged in connection with the largest cocaine seizure in the history of the State said he was tricked, that he was innocent, and deserved to be freed.
Harold Estoesta, 30, a Filipino national, was charged with conspiracy to have in his possession, on September 24, cocaine for sale or supply in excess of €13,000 in contravention of Sections 5 and 15a of the Misuse of Drugs Act, 1977.
Detective Garda Redmond Patrick O’Leary of the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB) arrested Mr Estoesta on Wednesday at 5.05pm aboard the HV Matthew docked at Marino Point in Cork Harbour.
He was conveyed to Cobh Garda Station where he was later charged.
“I believe that I just followed the orders of my seniors,” Mr Estoesta replied after he was charged under caution.
“I was also tricked and informed that these were spare parts. I wish to defend myself against accusations. I believe I was innocent and deserve to be freed.”
Mr Estoesta was brought to Midleton District Court to appear in front of Judge Colm Roberts under heavy Garda presence and the Garda Armed Support Unit.
The State applied for Mr Estoesta to be remanded in custody until October 10, when he is to appear before Mallow District Court.
Bail cannot be granted at district court level for the drug conspiracy charge involved.
Solicitor Aiden Desmond asked that his client have access to Filipino consulate while in prison and that he receive medical attention as he is on medication.
Both these requests were granted by Judge Colm Roberts.
Legal aid issues were deferred.
Seven other men have appeared before the district court charged in relation to the seizure.
Four men — two Ukrainians, one Iranian and one Dutch national — appeared at Mallow District Court on Tuesday charged with conspiracy to possess cocaine with a value in excess of €13,000.
They are to appear before Mallow District Court again on Tuesday, via video link.
The captain of the ship, an Iranian national, Soheil Jelveh, was charged with possession of cocaine, possession of cocaine for sale or supply and importing cocaine with a street value of more than €13,000. He was remanded in custody to appear before Wexford District Court via videolink on October 9.
A British national, James Harbron, 31, of South Avenue, Billingham, Stockton-on-Tees, and Vitaliy Lapa, 60, a Ukrainian national of no fixed abode, were before Waterford District Court on Friday, charged with conspiracy to import drugs.
The two men had been airlifted off a fishing trawler early on Monday morning after it ran aground on a sandbank off the Wexford coast. The fishing boat, called the Castlemore, had been bought days previously in Castletownbere, West Cork.
Gardaí believe the fishing trawler was due to meet with the MV Matthew before it ran aground.
More than 2.2 tonnes of cocaine was recovered from the Panamanian cargo ship MV Matthew last week. The haul has an initial value of €157m but may have a street value of some €500m once it has been cut, or diluted, with cheaper substances.
The 190m Panamanian-registered bulk cargo vessel, which is currently under armed guard at Marino Point in Cork Harbour, will take some time to fully search due to the scale of the vessel, sources say.
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