MV Matthew: Four plead guilty over €157m cocaine seizure on ship

Two other defendants Iranian Saeid Hassani, 39, and Filipino Harold Estoesta, 31, will stand trial on Monday before the Special Criminal Court arising from the seizure of the cocaine.

The two men were remanded in custody until then.

A seventh man, Ukrainian national Vitaliy Lapa, 62, with an address at Rudenka, Repina Str in Berdyansk, was previously arraigned on one of the two charges against him.

Mr Lapa pleaded guilty that on dates between 21 and 25 September 2023, he attempted to possess cocaine for the purpose of selling or otherwise supplying to another.

Mr Lapa was also facing a charge that between 15 July and 23 September 2023, both dates inclusive, within the state, with knowledge of the existence of a criminal organisation, that he participated in, or contributed to, activity intending to, or being reckless as to whether such participation or contribution could facilitate the commission of a serious offence by that criminal organisation or any of its members.