Accused was involved in disguising true position of cocaine ship MV Matthew, court told

The trial continues next Tuesday, with Ms Justice Melanie Greally presiding over the three-judge court

The MV Matthew was boarded in a dramatic operation by the Army Rangers, a specialist wing of the Irish Defence Forces, in September 2023. File picture: Larry Cummins

An officer of the Panamanian cargo ship that was seized by a joint task force off the Wexford coast for trafficking 2.2 tonnes of cocaine was involved in a group effort to disguise the vessel's true position, the Special Criminal Court has heard.

Filipino Harold Estoesta, aged 31, and Iranian Saeid Hassani, aged 39, have denied having the cocaine for sale or supply on board the Panamanian bulk carrier MV Matthew. The 2.25 tonnes of cocaine, the largest such seizure in Irish history, has an estimated value of more than €157 million. The ship was boarded in a dramatic operation by the Army Rangers, a specialist wing of the Irish Defence Forces, in September 2023.