Two men appear in court in connection with major drugs haul off Cork coast

Two men appeared at Wexford District Court on Monday charged in connection with the seizure of €157m worth of cocaine from the ‘mother ship’ MV Matthew.

The two men arrived under Garda escort from Cork Prison to each   face a further single charge in relation to the drugs haul.

Jamie Harbron, 31, of 26 South Avenue, Billingham, Stockton-on-Trent. UK, and Ukranian national Vitaliy Lapa, 60, of no fixed address, were each charged that on September 24, 2023, they attempted to commit an offence under Section 15A of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977, with the importation of drugs for sale or supply to a value of more than €13,000.

Detective Garda James Doolan, of the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, told the court he charged both accused on Monday morning.

Det Garda Doolan said when he put the charge to Mr Harbron, the accused made no reply following caution.

He also told Judge Cheatle that when he put the charge to Mr Lapa he made no comment.

Sergeant Victor Isdell said they were still awaiting directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

Jamie Harbron, 31, at a previous court hearing. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA Wire

Jamie Harbron, 31, at a previous court hearing. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA Wire

Solicitor Marie Murphy made an application for free legal aid and agreed to have the case adjourned to Monday next.

Granting the application, Judge Cheatle said he would adjourn the case to Monday next to await directions from the DPP.

Both accused were remanded in custody to Cork Prison to appear before Wexford District Court via video link on Monday next.

Previous hearing

At a previous sitting of Wexford District Court the two accused had appeared on a charge of conspiring to import drugs.

Detective Garda Liam Mangan had told the earlier court hearing that the crew (two accused) of the ‘Castlemore’ were working with the MV Matthew captain to import cocaine from South America to Ireland.

Det Garda Mangan had also told the court the situation had come to light after the trawler ‘Castlemore’ had run aground off the Wexford coast on Sunday, September 24.

The newly purchased fishing vessel had reportedly been in contact with the ‘mother ship’ and had been monitored by the joint task force from the previous Friday.

Following a huge joint task force operation involving armed gardaí, the National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, the Naval Service and the Elite Army Ranger Wing, the Panamanian bulk cargo vessel, the MV Matthew, was detained off the Cork coast.

The ship was brought back to Cork Harbour under an escort and gardaí eventually announced they had uncovered 2.25 tonnes of cocaine on board, the biggest drugs seizure in the history of the State. The cocaine was valued at €157m.

Det Garda Mangan had also told the previous hearing that the two accused men were airlifted from the deck of the stricken trawler ‘Castlemore’ off Blackwater, Co Wexford, onto the patrol ship the LE Williams Butler Yeats and taken into custody.

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