Ukrainian man pleads guilty to drugs offence in MV Matthew cocaine seizure case

Vitaliy Lapa was the only one of the accused men who did not make an application under the Criminal Procedure Act to have his case dismissed

Vitaliy Lapa, aged 62, was arraigned on one of the two charges against him on Monday. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA Wire

One of seven men who was due to go on trial after a raid on a Panamanian cargo ship off the South-East coast resulted in the largest cocaine seizure in Irish history has pleaded guilty to a drugs offence.

Ukrainian national Vitaliy Lapa, aged 62, with an address at Rudenka, Repina Str, Berdyansk, appeared before the non-jury court on Monday, where he was arraigned on one of the two charges against him.