A major drug operation in Irish waters has uncovered one of the largest cocaine smuggling attempts to Europe. More than 2.2 tonnes of cocaine were seized on board the MV Matthew, operated by an international network with links to Dubai. Despite limited resources – just one ship at sea – Irish forces successfully intervened using the army’s elite Rangers Wing unit and seized the drugs. The operation highlighted not only the resolve of the authorities, but also the weaknesses of Ireland’s maritime and air defences, which are being exploited by international drug cartels.
The gang’s communications, sent from Dubai, described the operation as “simple” and guaranteed success. But the attempt failed and resulted in one of the largest cocaine seizures in Irish history. At the heart of the network were a Ukrainian fisherman, an unemployed British man and others who were trying to get the cocaine off the MV Matthew via a smaller fishing vessel, the Castlemore. The plan was thwarted by storms and technical faults, while Irish authorities had fitted the vessel with a GPS tracker.
After the Castlemore hit a sandbar, the crew called for help from the coastguard and were rescued. Meanwhile, panic gripped the MV Matthew. Iranian captain Soheil Jelveh fled by helicopter claiming to need urgent medical treatment, but over $50,000 was found in his bag at the hospital and he was arrested. After him, a Filipino national, Harold Estoesta, took command, who tried to escape the navy.
At a critical moment, the Irish Navy was forced to fire warning shots to force the ship to stop and head for Cork harbor. The crew attempted to escape, but special forces from the Rangers Wing boarded the ship and arrested the smugglers.
In total, eight people were sentenced to 129 years in prison and the entire quantity of cocaine was destroyed. But despite this success, experts warn that Europe is facing a significant increase in cocaine trafficking from South America.
According to the Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre (MAOC), more than 100 ships suspected of smuggling drugs to Europe were not stopped last year, due to a lack of resources by the authorities. MAOC director Sjoerd Top says cocaine production in South America has reached record levels, with up to 600 ships being monitored every day. Figures from the UK's National Crime Agency show that 117 tonnes of cocaine were consumed in Britain alone last year, while the number of deaths linked to it has increased tenfold since 2011.
Experts warn that Ireland has become a favourite gateway for drug cartels due to its 3,200km coastline and poor maritime security. It serves as a “back door” for drugs to enter the UK and Europe. The Irish government has promised to increase defence funding by €600m over the next four years, a 55% increase. But security experts warn that unless urgent action is taken, the “cocaine highway” to Europe will remain open to the cartels.
