US EditionEight jailed over MV Matthew cocaine seizure
- Today, eight men received prison sentences ranging from 13 and a half to 20 years for roles in smuggling 2.2 tonnes of cocaine aboard the MV Matthew off the Irish coast.
- In September 2023, Irish Defence Forces intercepted and boarded a Panama-flagged cargo vessel owned by a company based in Dubai.
- The men, recruited by an organized crime syndicate operating out of Dubai, disregarded multiple naval warnings, attempted to destroy the drugs by fire, and relied on a WhatsApp chat containing false legal claims to avoid arrest.
- Detective Superintendent Joe O’Reilly emphasized that the sentences demonstrate Ireland’s firm stance against becoming vulnerable to global organised crime groups.
- The case highlights the effectiveness of joint Garda, customs, and Defence Forces operations against highly coordinated drug trafficking networks using cell structures to limit exposure.
24 Articles
24 Articles
Eight men have been given prison sentences ranging from 13.5 to 20 years for their role in the smuggling of 2.2 tonnes of cocaine, worth over 157 million euros, Irish public broadcaster RTE reports. It was the largest cocaine seizure in Irish history. Among the smugglers was a 49-year-old Dutchman. He confessed and was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
Eight men have been given prison sentences ranging from 13.5 to 20 years for their role in the smuggling of 2.2 tonnes of cocaine, worth over 157 million euros, Irish public broadcaster RTE reports. It was the largest cocaine seizure in Irish history. Among the smugglers was a 49-year-old Dutchman. He confessed and was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
A 49-year-old Dutchman has been sentenced to 20 years in prison in Ireland for cocaine smuggling. He has confessed. The case revolved around a shipment of 2,200 kilos of cocaine that was found in September 2023 on a cargo ship that had departed from Curacao. It was the largest cocaine find in Irish history. The shipment had a street value of 157 million euros, reports broadcaster RTE. The Dutchman was on board the cargo ship, which was intercept…
The Independent
Eight men jailed for involvement in Ireland’s largest ever drugs haul
They received sentences varying in length from 13 and a half years to 20 years on Friday.
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