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

The MV Matthew berthed at Marino Point, Cork. Picture: Dan Linehan

Four men who were arrested in connection with the biggest drugs haul in the history of the State are to be sent forward for trial at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

Iranian Saeid Hassani, 37, Dutch national Cumali Ozgen, 48, and Ukrainians Vitaliy Vlasoi, 31 and Mykhalo Gavryk, 30 appeared by video link from Cork Prison before Judge Colm Roberts at Mallow District Court. All observed proceedings through interpreters.