Executive summary: In a major crackdown, Irish authorities seized 2.2 tonnes of cocaine from a cargo ship, highlighting the intense battle against drug cartels exploiting maritime routes into Europe. This operation exposed significant challenges in policing the transatlantic drug trade.
The bust centered on the MV Matthew, a Panama-registered vessel purchased by drug cartels in August 2023 for approximately £10 million, which was attempting to transfer cocaine to a smaller trawler, the Castlemore, in the Irish Sea. This at-sea drop-off method is increasingly favored by smugglers as security tightens at major European ports like Rotterdam and Antwerp. The operation was monitored from the outset, with Irish police tracking the vessels and even placing a tracker on the Castlemore.
Key individuals involved included Vitaliy Lapa from Ukraine and Jamie Harbron from the UK, who were later convicted and sentenced to 14.5 and 13.5 years in prison, respectively. Instructions for the operation were sent from Dubai-based handlers, with messages revealing coordination and attempts to calm panicking crew members during the interception. A Scottish man, identified as Stefan Boyd, was also involved in the initial purchase but fled to Dubai and remains at large.
Irish law enforcement faced substantial resource constraints during the operation. The Irish Naval Service, responsible for patrolling 132,000 square miles of water, could deploy only two ships due to a shortage of sailors, and air support was limited, with helicopters often unavailable or needing reconfiguration for military tasks. At the time of the bust, only one naval ship, the WB Yeats, was at sea, and the only airworthy helicopter had to be stripped of medical equipment for the boarding operation.
Despite these hurdles, the Irish Navy successfully intercepted the MV Matthew after firing warning shots—the first such incident since the 1980s—and the Irish Army Ranger Wing boarded the ship from a helicopter, capturing the crew. The seizure resulted in the destruction of all 2.2 tonnes of cocaine, valued at over €157 million, and led to the conviction of eight men with total sentences of 129 years.
However, this victory underscores broader issues in combating drug trafficking. The Maritime Analysis Operations Centre (MAOC) reports that up to 100 ships suspected of trafficking drugs to Europe were not stopped last year due to insufficient interception assets. Cocaine production in South America is at record highs, and UK consumption reached 117 tonnes last year, with cocaine-related deaths rising ten-fold since 2011.
The event revealed that Ireland, with its extensive coastline and open border with the UK, is increasingly targeted as a back door for drug cartels, including groups like the Kinahan organised crime group. Since this bust, Irish police have uncovered four more large-scale trafficking attempts, indicating the persistent and adaptive nature of the cartels.
This case emphasizes the urgent need for enhanced European cooperation, increased defense spending, and better resource allocation to secure maritime routes. Without significant improvements, authorities fear that cartels will continue to exploit weaknesses, ensuring that a substantial portion of cocaine shipments reaches European markets despite intermittent seizures.