Moment MV Matthew crew ordered to burn drugs as Irish warship in ‘hot pursuit' as cops probe Iran & Kinahan cartel links
The drugs operation, which originated in
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The Army Ranger Wing boarding the MV Matthew as part of Ireland's largest-ever drugs haul
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The partially-burned cocaine stash inside a lifeboat on the MV Matthew
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Captain Darragh Kirwan head of Naval Service Operations and Garda Assistant Comissioner Angela Willis
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Eight men were jailed on Friday for between 13.5 and 20 years for their part in trying to smuggle the 2.2tonnes — the largest
The haul was seized following a joint
The
These criminals are believed to have links to the Islamic Revolutionary Guards, which was led by General Hossein Salami, until he was killed by an Israeli airstrike during last month's
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Two of those jailed on Friday were Iranians that Gardai believe have links to Hezbollah, led by Hassan Nasrallah before his assassination in
Today, the Gardai released a
The man who ran the operation from
Speaking today from the Naval Base in Haulbowline, Co
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Asst Comm Willis said Gardai have also identified Irish-based
She said: 'The next phase of the operation is to look at the peripheral involvement of other people here in Ireland and abroad, and that will also include looking at asset recovery of those people.'
RESILIENT CARTELS
She indicated the
Interpol's Dave Cantor said: 'The cartels are resilient and looking for new ways to get their drugs to market. I think it's changing as the threat of synthetic drugs is on the rise globally.'
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He said deadly drugs like Pink Cocaine — a cocktail of synthetic drugs which has led to many deaths in the
He stressed: 'There's a very strong commitment to fight organised crime.'
Revenue Commissioner Ruth Kennedy said they have a potential buyer for MV Matthew, which is berthed across from the town of Passage.
To watch the full story of the MV Matthew click
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Daniel Kinahan
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Hezbollah's chief Hassan Nasrallah
Credit: AFP
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Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Commander-in-Chief Major General Hossein Salami
Credit: Reuters
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She said anyone who consumes drugs is funding these criminal organisations and 'directly linked to the misery and suffering' those gangs inflict on communities. While the haul was organised in the Kinahans' current base in the UAE, gardaí have also identified Irish-based criminals as part of further investigations following the seizure. 'The next phase of the operation is to look at the peripheral involvement of other people here in Ireland and abroad, and that phase has now commenced and that will also include looking at asset recovery of those people.' Busted: Harold Estoesta (31) Busted: Saeid Hassani (39) The dramatic video of the joint operation to take down the MV Matthew included messages and voice notes from a United Arab Emirates criminal with links to Hezbollah describing himself as Captain Noah, who was urging the crew not to panic even after authorities have engaged with them. However, he later said he was close to a 'heart attack' as the Navy gave pursuit and eventually ordered the crew to burn the drugs when he realised they were going to be stormed. Assistant Commissioner Willis said authorities believe Captain Noah is still alive and operating in the Middle East. Members of Army Ranger Wing stormed and captured the vessel in less than 10 minutes and the Irish Naval Service fired warning shots after the vessel failed to stop and tried to sail away destined for Sierra Leone. On Friday, eight men received prison sentences combing 129 years in relation to the seizure. Six men pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine for sale or supply on board the MV Matthew between September 24 and 26 2023. Dutch national Cumali Ozgen (49), who was described as the 'eyes and ears of the criminal organisation' on board the vessel, received a sentence of 20 years, while the second officer, Filipino Harold Estoesta (31) received a sentence of 18 years. 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The company who bought the MV Matthew cargo ship set up a website just six weeks before the seizure, with servers based in the United Arab Emirates boasting how their 'extensive network of partners and port authorities allow us to efficiently navigate through various regions'. Busted: Jamie Harbron (31) Busted: Vitaliy Lapa (62) The ship, which flew under the Panama flag, was purchased by the newly formed company Matthew Maritime just six weeks before the seizure. It was called the MV Honmon before its name was changed to the MV Matthew while it was travelling through the Caribbean from Aruba to Willemstad in Curaçao. Matthew Maritime is headquartered in the Marshall Islands in the central Pacific Ocean and shares an address with several shipping companies who have been placed under international sanctions for a variety of reasons. Matthew Maritime claimed that the company has carried out 1,000 deliveries on 1,216 voyages to 100 international ports despite the fact the company itself was only set up in July. The MV Matthew is also the only ship that Matthew Maritime owned and it had not made 1,216 voyages. The website for Matthew Maritime was also only set up in July 2023 and remains online makes various claims about the firm which do not seem to match up with a company with one ship that was only set up a few months previously. They describe the company as having 'a strong industry legacy and a worldwide presence'. 'We specialize in managing bulk carrier vessels with precision and expertise, ensuring the smooth and secure transportation of dry cargo across the globe. 'Our unwavering dedication to quality, environmental stewardship, and advanced technology distinguishes us as the go-to choice for clients seeking seamless shipping solutions and profitable ventures in the maritime domain. Come aboard as we chart a course towards prosperity and sustainability together.' The movements of the MV Matthew in the run-up to the seizure had raised suspicions with various authorities. It travelled through various stops in the Caribbean, including the island of Curaçao, before heading to Georgetown in Guyana in South America. It picked up cargo before sailing across the Atlantic to Morocco and on towards Irish waters. While it initially listed its next destination as Gdansk in Poland this was changed to Belfast mid-journey. Matthew Maritime did not make any attempt to claim the MV Matthew in the almost two years since it was stormed by the Defence Forces and seized by the State. It emerged yesterday that a potential buyer has now been found for the vessel.
