Man in court over MV Matthew drug seizure
More than two tonnes of cocaine was found on board a cargo ship last month
At a glance
A man has appeared in court charged in relation to the largest drug seizure in the history of the Irish state
More than two tonnes of cocaine was found on board a cargo ship last month off the Cork coast
Harold Estoesta, 30, from the Philippines appeared before the district court in Middleton in east Cork on Thursday.
- Published
A man from the Philippines has appeared in court charged in relation to the largest ever drug seizure in the Republic of Ireland.
Officials recovered over two tonnes of cocaine after a cargo ship, MV Matthew, was stormed by armed forces off the coast of Cork last month.
Harold Estoesta, 30, appeared before Midleton District Court in east County Cork on Thursday.
He was arrested on 27 September onboard the Panamanian-registered vessel and later questioned at Cobh Garda station before being charged.
Mr Estoesta is charged with conspiracy to possess and supply controlled substances, namely cocaine.
Evidence of the accused's arrest, charge and caution was shared to the court by an Irish police officer.
The officer said Mr Estoesta replied to the charge that he had been tricked, he was innocent and deserved to be free.
There was no application for bail.