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Video showing how gardai tracked €115m cocaine shipment on MV Matthew is released

Footage as eight men jailed for involvement in Ireland’s largest drugs haul

Alan Sherry and Mick Carolan

Gardai have released a video showing how they tracked a €115 million shipment of cocaine on the MV Matthew.

The clip also details a series of messages send by an organised crime gang in Dubai directed the crew of the vessel.

On Friday, eight men were jailed by the Special Criminal Court for their roles the record haul for a combined 129 years.

The longest sentence imposed was against Dutch national Cumali Ozgen (50), who received a 20-year sentence. Ms Justice Greally said Ozgen had the closest connection to the Dubai-based criminal organisation that planned and funded the operation and that stood to gain from its success.

Ozgen, along with Ukrainians Mykhailo Gavryk (32) and Vitaliy Vlasoi (33); Iranians Soheil Jelveh (52) and Saeid Hassani (39) and Filipino Harold Estoesta (31); previously pleaded guilty that between September 24 and 26 2023, both dates inclusive, at locations outside the State, on board the vessel "MV Matthew" they possessed cocaine for sale or supply contravention of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations. The drugs have been valued at €157 million.

Ukrainian national Vitaliy Lapa (62), with an address at Rudenka, Repina Str in Berdyansk, and Jamie Harbron (31) of South Avenue, Billingham in the UK pleaded guilty that on dates between September 21 and 25, 2023, at a location within the State, they attempted to possess cocaine for the purpose of selling or otherwise supplying to another.

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