{"id":12952,"date":"2025-07-10T19:02:15","date_gmt":"2025-07-10T19:02:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/krogragg.com\/?p=12952"},"modified":"2025-07-10T19:02:15","modified_gmt":"2025-07-10T19:02:15","slug":"bulk-carrier-crew-jailed-over-irelands-largest-ever-maritime-drug-seizure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/krogragg.com\/?p=12952","title":{"rendered":"Bulk Carrier Crew Jailed Over Ireland\u2019s Largest-Ever Maritime Drug Seizure"},"content":{"rendered":"

Bulk Carrier Crew Jailed Over Ireland\u2019s Largest-Ever Maritime Drug Seizure
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Screengrab from Facebook video posted by Irish Defence Forces<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Eight men have been sentenced to prison terms ranging from 13.5 years to 20 years for their roles in a failed attempt to smuggle 2.2 tonnes of cocaine into Ireland. The cocaine, worth over \u20ac157 million, was seized in September 2023 in what has become the largest drug seizure in Irish history.<\/p>\n

The drugs were found on board the MV Matthew, a Panamanian-flagged cargo ship. The ship was tracked as it sailed from Cura\u00e7ao, near Venezuela, across the Atlantic. It was intercepted off the coast of Ireland in a joint operation by An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, Revenue Customs, and the Irish Defence Forces.<\/p>\n

On 26 September 2023, an elite team of Army Ranger Wing (ARW) soldiers fast-roped from a helicopter onto the MV Matthew after the ship ignored warnings from the Irish Navy vessel L\u00c9 William Butler Yeats. The operation was carried out in dangerous weather conditions. The Navy had earlier fired warning shots when the ship tried to escape.<\/p>\n

Six of the eight men were on board the MV Matthew. They had various roles in the operation and were part of a larger transnational criminal organisation. The group behind the smuggling attempt was said to have unlimited resources and global connections, with leaders reportedly based in Dubai.<\/p>\n

The court heard that the MV Matthew had been purchased by the crime group specifically to smuggle drugs. The operation was well-planned, using encrypted communication apps, Starlink internet, and spoofing techniques to hide the ship\u2019s real location.<\/p>\n

Dutch national Cumali Ozgen, also known as \u201cJimmy\u201d, was described as the main man for the cartel on board. He received the longest sentence of 20 years. The court was told he loaded drug crates onto the ship and even tried to burn the cargo when the Navy approached. He had been promised between \u20ac50,000 and \u20ac100,000 if the smuggling operation had succeeded.<\/p>\n