Cocaine cargo ship seized off Cork coast is linked to drugs hauls in France and Spain

The cargo ship MV Matthew had 2.25 tonnes of cocaine when seized off the Cork coast. Picture: Dan Linehan

European and British intelligence agencies believe the cocaine ‘mother ship’ seized off the Cork coast may have unloaded massive consignments of drugs that were recently seized by French and Spanish authorities. 

Military intelligence sources have told the Irish Examiner  that the Panamanian-registered cargo ship MV Matthew, which was boarded and seized by Ireland’s army ranger wing on Tuesday, was a likely supplier of cocaine to smaller vessels that were seized by international security forces earlier this month.

Spanish and French authorities seized 3,400 kilos of cocaine from smaller vessels that were likely stocked from the MV Matthew. 

The Spanish navy intercepted a ‘lander’ vessel about 500 miles off the coast of Cape Verde, which had around 1,000 kilos of cocaine onboard.

This was followed by the French navy carrying out a similar operation last week, off the coast of West Africa, which resulted in the seizure of another 2,400 kilos of cocaine from a 20-metre fishing boat.

Military and intelligence services are investigating whether the MV Matthew was the central supplying point to move cocaine to European gangs from cartels in Colombia. Picture: Dan Linehan

European and British military and intelligence services are now investigating whether the MV Matthew was the central supplying point to move cocaine to several European drug gangs from cartels in Colombia.

The bulk cargo ship had 2.25 tonnes of cocaine on it when seized by Ireland's Defence Forces, but it had the capacity to carry more than 60,000 tonnes. 

It is believed the ship's journey was financed by a collaboration of major crime gangs from across Europe, with the Kinahan cartel likely to have been heavily involved.

International drug gangs are becoming increasingly desperate to get 'mules' to transport drugs, but a lack of seaborne experience is leading to major losses, with vessels running into difficulties and leading to major seizures.

The cargo ship MV Matthew berthed at the old IFI plant at Marino Point, Cork. Picture: Dan Linehan

Some experienced Irish sailors have been approached by third parties to bring vessels back from Morocco to Spain and into other parts of Europe.

One man who was approached for such endeavours said he immediately thought something was wrong.

"They offered to pay me in cash. Then, when I refused, they got aggressive. I reported it to the police," he said.

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris yesterday confirmed that Irish drug gangs were involved in trafficking the cocaine seized this week.

"Given that the target for the importation was Ireland, there has to be some Irish involvement in this," he said.

"Because beyond actually landing it, there's obviously then a huge distribution effort required to move that amount of drugs either throughout Ireland or then from Ireland into Europe.

"So, a lot of lines of inquiry for us around the individuals so far apprehended, but also then the scale of investment required upfront to make this operation happen."

A seventh man was arrested yesterday in connection with the Irish operation.

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris confirmed that Irish drug gangs were involved in trafficking the cocaine seized this week. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA

Six men were already in Garda custody being questioned in connection with the seizure, which is worth an estimated €157m but which may have a street value of up to €500m when diluted with cheaper substances.

The men are being held at Garda stations in Fermoy, Mallow, Cobh, and in Wexford.

Three of these men are Ukrainian, two are Iranian, and one is a UK national. The seventh man is a Dutch national in his 40s.

All seven men are detained under section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007, which allows gardaí to hold suspects for up to seven days.

Colombia’s biggest drug cartel, the murderous Gulf Clan group, is suspected of involvement in the operation.

An Albanian-led European criminal consortium is also suspected of involvement alongside the Irish criminal gangs.

An examination of the MV Matthew was under way yesterday under armed guard in Cork Harbour.