Two men on trial at the Special Criminal Court played an “essential part” in a “sophisticated, complex and highly professional international drug trafficking operation”, the State alleges.
Saeid Hassani (39), an Iranian, and Harold Estoesta (31), a native of the Philippines, deny having 2.2 tonnes of cocaine on board the Panamanian cargo ship for sale or supply.
With an estimated value of €157 million, the drugs seized in September 2023 represent the largest cocaine haul in Irish history.
In his opening speech to the non-jury court on Tuesday, senior counsel for the State Seán Guerin said the vessel was interdicted following an operation involving members of the Revenue Customs Service, Naval Service and An Garda Síochána.
He said the MV Matthew, a bulk carrier ship or cargo ship attempted to evade capture but was followed “in hot pursuit” by a Naval Service patrol vessel.
The ship was used to transport products such as grain, was previously known as the ‘Honman’. It was sailing under the flag of Panama but was owned by a Dubai-based company known as ‘Symphony Marine’.
The ship’s change of name, ownership and crewing “shortly before the transatlantic voyage” were all small parts of a “sophisticated, complex and highly professional international drug trafficking operation”, said Mr Guerin.
He said the two men played an important role in trying to bring to fruition the transport and delivery of the cocaine.
The medical evacuation, hospitalisation and arrest of the ship’s captain led to the discovery of encrypted phone devices
Four co-accused – Iranian Soheil Jelveh (51), Ukrainians Vitaliy Vlasoi (32) and Mykhailo Gavryk (32), and Dutch national Cumali Ozgen (49) – last week pleaded guilty to similar offences connected to the seizure.
Many of the vessel’s crew were unaware it was being used to transport the drugs, the court heard.
Mr Guerin said the ship’s captain, Jelveh, was medically evacuated by the Irish Coast Guard in late September 2023, at which point his second in command, Vlasoi, took over.
Jelveh’s evacuation, hospitalisation and arrest led to the discovery of encrypted phone devices, an analysis of which revealed communications about arrangements for transporting controlled drugs to a fishing vessel.
A significant part of the case against Mr Estoesta, one of two second officers on board the MV Matthews, relates to his participation in a WhatsApp group involving certain members of the ship’s crew, excluding Jelveh, said counsel.
Mr Guerin said there were communications between Mr Estoesta and people not on the ship regarding “arrangements of the transportation of the drugs” and “concealment” of those activities.
Mr Hassani, the third officer on the vessel, was also party to the WhatsApp group, said counsel. In his case, there will be evidence of direct channels of communication to others off the vessel, he said.
Mr Guerin said the State’s case is that the communications make clear what knowledge Mr Hassani had and the role he played in organising the logistics of the transfer of the drugs from the MV Matthew to the other vessel.
Mr Hassani and Mr Estoesta are charged with possession of cocaine, for the purpose of sale or supply, on board the MV Matthew vessel within the territorial seas of the State on September 24th, 2023, and at locations outside the State between that date and September 26th, 2023.
They are also each accused of having knowledge of a criminal organisation and contributing to activity intending to, or being reckless as to whether such contribution could, facilitate a serious offence by that criminal organisation.
Both men have pleaded not guilty to the three charges. The trial continues.
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