Six of the seven men who were due to go on trial on Monday accused of offences relating to one of the largest drug hauls in Irish history are to apply to have the charges against them dismissed.
The Special Criminal Court heard the six men, who are charged with offences arising from the seizure of 2.25 tonnes of cocaine on board the MV Matthew, intend to make applications under the Criminal Procedure Act.
If successful, the applications would see the charges against them dismissed without their trials going ahead. Under the Act, the reasons for the application and the substance of the submissions cannot be reported.
The cocaine seized from the Panama-registered bulk carrier had an estimated value of more than €157 million. The ship was boarded by Army Rangers, a specialist wing of the Irish Defence Forces, during an operation in September 2023 off the Co Cork coast.
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The hearings are due to begin on Tuesday before the three-judge, non-jury court and are expected to last three to four days.
Those due to go on trial are Ukrainian nationals Mykhailo Gavryk (32), Vitaliy Vlasoi (32), Vitaliy Lapa (61); Iranian nationals Soheil Jelveh (51) and Saeid Hassani (39); Dutch national Cumali Ozgen (49) and Filipino man Harold Estoesta (31).
Vitaliy Lapa is the only one of the accused who is not making an application under the Criminal Procedure Act to have his case dismissed. He is accused of an offence contrary to section 5 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977 on dates between September 24th and September 26th, 2023.
Mr Lapa is also charged with an offence under section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006 that between July 15th and September 25th, 2023, with knowledge of the existence of a criminal organisation, he contributed to an activity intending to or being reckless as to whether such activity could facilitate the commission of a serious offence by that criminal organisation.
Mr Jelveh, Mr Gavryk, Mr Vlasoi, Mr Estoesta, Mr Hassani and Mr Ozgen face similar charges and are further charged under the Criminal Justice (Illicit Traffic by Sea) Act 2003.
UK national Jamie Harbron has previously pleaded guilty to an offence arising from the seizure. He will appear before the court later this year for a sentencing hearing.
Harbron (31), of South Avenue, Billingham, England, pleaded guilty that on a date between September 21st and September 25th, 2023, both dates inclusive, he attempted to have cocaine in his possession for the purpose of sale or supply, an offence under the Misuse of Drugs Act.
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