A third man has appeared in court after being charged in relation with the seizure of almost €160 million of cocaine on a bulk cargo ship off the south coast.
Soheil Jelveh (50), an Iranian national of no fixed abode, appeared before Wexford District Court on Monday morning.
Mr Jelveh, who was referred to in court as a ship captain, was charged with being in the possession of cocaine on September 24th and further charged with being in possession of the controlled drug for the purpose of selling or supplying it in contravention of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2017 to 2019.
He was also charged with importing cocaine on September 24th in contravention of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2017-2019.
A total of 2,253kg of cocaine was found on the MV Matthew cargo ship after members of the Army Ranger Wing captured the vessel off the Co Cork coast by abseiling from a helicopter earlier this week.
An Garda Síochana said the seizure was the largest in the history of the State.
Gardaí believe the cocaine, seized on the cargo ship after the dramatic military operation at sea, was destined for distribution beyond Ireland, potentially into the UK and continental Europe.
Detective Garda Liam Mangan, from the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau. told the court that Mr Jelveh was arrested at 2.21 pm on Sunday and charged at 3.31 pm.
He said the accused had been airlifted from the cargo vessel on September 25th after reports that he was injured were received.
He had been transferred to Waterford Hospital where he was searched by gardaí.
Objection for bail
Gardaí objected to a bail application from Mr Jelveh’s solicitor Lana Doherty.
Judge John Cheatle rejected the bail application, stating: “The allegations against the defendant are so serious and his links to the jurisdiction are so tenuous it renders bail impossible, in my mind, in this situation.”
Ms Doherty said Mr Jelveh did not need medical attention but asked for consideration that he receive protection in prison, to which Gardaí agreed. He was also granted legal aid.
Mr Jelveh was remanded in custody to appear again at Wexford District Court via videolink on October 9th.
A fishing trawler which grounded off the coast of Co Wexford late on Sunday was also being monitored as part of the operation, amid suspicions it was en route to rendezvous with the cargo ship.
Two men who had been winched from that vessel also appeared before Wexford District Court on Monday.
Jamie Harbron (31), of South Avenue, Billingham, Stockton-on-Tees, UK, and 60-year-old Ukrainian national Vitaliy Lapa, of no fixed abode, were charged with conspiracy to import drugs.
Appearing via videolink, they were further remanded in custody to appear again on October 16th awaiting directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Five other men have been arrested in relation to the case. One has been released without charge while the other four remain in custody.
By Cillian Sherlock, PA
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