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

The 2.25 tonnes of cocaine that was seized from the MV Matthew, a Panamanian-registered bulk carrier, has an estimated value of more than €157m. File picture: Dan Linehan

Two men have gone on trial at the Special Criminal Court, where they deny having 2.2 tonnes of cocaine for sale or supply on board a Panamanian cargo ship after the largest such seizure in Irish history.

Iranian Saeid Hassani, aged 39, and Filipino Harold Estoesta, aged 31, were arraigned before the Special Criminal Court  on Monday, where they were charged that on September 24, 2023, on board the vessel MV Matthew within the territorial sea of the State, they had in their possession controlled drugs, namely cocaine, for the purpose of selling or otherwise supplying the drug to another in contravention of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations, 2017 to 2023, made under section 5 of the Misuse of Drugs Act, 1977 and at the time while the drug was in their possession the market value of the controlled drug amounted to €13,000 or more.

They were further charged with the possession of cocaine for sale or supply to a value of €13,000 or more between September 24 and 26, 2023, both dates inclusive, at locations outside the State, on board the vessel MV Matthew, a ship registered in Panama, a Convention state.

Each man also faces a charge that on September 24, 2023, within the State, with knowledge of the existence of a criminal organisation, he participated in or contributed to activity intending to, or being reckless as to whether such participation or contribution could, facilitate the commission of a serious offence by that criminal organisation or any of its members.

Saeid Hassani. File Picture: Dan Linehan

Both men pleaded not guilty to all charges.

The trial of the two men is due to begin on Tuesday before the non-jury Special Criminal Court, with Ms Justice Melanie Greally presiding over the three-judge court.

Harold Estoesta.  File Picture: Dan Linehan

Four co-accused — Ukrainians Mykhailo Gavryk, aged 32, and Vitaliy Vlasoi, aged 32, Iranian Soheil Jelveh, aged 51, and Dutch national Cumali Ozgen, aged 49 — last week pleaded guilty to similar offences connected to the seizure.

The 2.25 tonnes of cocaine that was seized from the MV Matthew, a Panamanian-registered bulk carrier, has an estimated value of more than €157m. The ship was boarded in a dramatic operation by the Army Rangers, a specialist wing of the Irish Defence Forces, in September 2023.