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

Cocaine worth in excess of €157m was seized by gardaí, customs officers and the Naval Service from ship the MV Matthew n September. Photo: Eamonn Farrell/© RollingNews.ie

Directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) on the cases of three men charged in connection with the State’s biggest drug bust, or a timeline on when those directions might be, are now expected on February 13.

Dutch national Cumali Ozgen, 48; Filipino Harold Estoesta, 30; and Iranian Saeid Hassani, 37, were remanded in continued custody until that date.

Harold Estoesta remanded in continued custody until February 13. Picture: Dan Linehan

They appeared via videolink from Cork Prison on Tuesday and all consented to being remanded in custody for a further three weeks, to appear again via videolink at Mallow District Court.

Directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) or a timeframe on those directions are expected at that date, Judge Colm Roberts said.

“At the present moment we do not have directions, the chance of directions in three weeks is remote but we should have a clear timeframe as to when they will be available,” Judge Roberts said.

Considering the size of the file being sent to the DPP, it was not surprising that directions were still awaited, Judge Roberts said. Judge Roberts said that the suspects could be remanded without consent for two weeks or with consent for three weeks.

Solicitor David O’Meara recommended that his client, Mr Ozgen, consent to being remanded in custody for a further three weeks and told him that he would keep him updated on all developments.

Speaking through his interpreter, Mr Hassani said: “My condition mentally in here [in prison] is not good but perhaps I have to accept it for everything to happen.” File picture: Dan Linehan

Saied Hassani was supported by a Farsi interpreter in court. Solicitor Cathal Lombard, standing in for Don Ryan, said that Mr Hassani may apply for bail on the next court date, which he consented to being February 13.

Speaking through his interpreter, Mr Hassani said: “My condition mentally in here [in prison] is not good but perhaps I have to accept it for everything to happen.” Judge Roberts recommended that Mr Hassani take all available supports while in Cork Prison.

“Cork Prison has a very good mental health team, I would recommend he takes all the assistance he can,” he said. Mr Hassani consented to being remanded in custody until February 13, to appear via videolink with a Farsi interpreter.

The men have been charged with possession of cocaine for sale or supply with a value in excess of €13,000 in Irish waters. They have also been charged with possession of cocaine for sale or supply with a value in excess of €13,000 outside of Irish territorial waters.

Solicitor David O’Meara recommended that his client, Cumali Ozgen (pictured), consent to being remanded in custody for a further three weeks and told him that he would keep him updated on all developments. File picture: Dan Linehan

Cocaine worth in excess of €157m was seized by gardaí, customs officers and the Naval Service in a dramatic operation off the Cork coast in September where elite army rangers tight-roped onto the moving vessel in stormy waters.

Eight people have been charged in relation to the seizure.

Ukrainians Vitaliy Vlasoi, 31; and Mykhailo Gavryk, 30, were also arrested aboard the MV Matthew and are also due before Mallow District Court via videolink on February 13. The ship’s captain, Iranian national Soheil Jelveh, 50, has also been charged in connection with the seizure.

UK national Jamie Harbron, 31, and Ukrainian Vitaliy Lapa, 60, were airlifted off a trawler which ran aground off the Wexford coast and were later charged with conspiracy to import drugs.