Four men have admitted their roles in what was the largest seizure of cocaine in the history of the State.
Over 157-million-euro worth of the drug was recovered when specialist soldiers from the Irish Army Rangers boarded the MV Matthew in September 2023.
On the 26th of September 2023, the MV Matthew, a Panamanian-flagged cargo ship, was boarded by Irish Army Rangers.
2.2 tonnes of cocaine, with a street value of over €157m, were seized.
Six men were due to stand trial for various drug offences but today, four of them pleaded guilty.
Cumali Ozgen, a 49yo Dutch national; 51yo Soheil Jelveh, from Iran; and Ukrainian nationals, Mykhailo Gavryk and Vitaliy Vlasoi, both aged 32yo, pleaded guilty to having cocaine in their possession for sale or supply, at locations outside the State, onboard the MV Matthew, on dates between the 24th and 26th of September 2023.
The four men, along with two others, will be sentenced at a later date.
Meanwhile, the remaining two accused men are due to stand trial on Monday.
