Captain Of Cargo Ship Carrying €157million Worth Of Cocaine Appears In Wexford Court

The ship captain of the MV, Matthew, got a bail rejection after he appeared at the court on being charged over the €157 million cocaine seizure off the country’s south coast.

Soheil Jelveh, 50, was before Wexford District Court, where it was heard that he would be facing three raps. This Iranian national, who has no fixed abode, was charged with having cocaine on 24 September.

He has further been charged with being in possession of the controlled drug for selling/supplying it in contravention of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations of 2017–2019.

Gardai from the DOCB searched the accused in the hospital and got their hands on mobile phones — including a satellite phone — some documents and cash summing up to $53,000.

The accused has been a vessel captain for two decades. He claimed that the money was his wage. About 2,253 kgs of cocaine were discovered on the MV Matthew cargo vessel, estimated to be worth in “excess” of €157 million.

Det Gda Mangan mentioned that the accused was caught “red-handed”. He added that it was his duty to oversee the cargo on the vessel and also the channel as the captain.

Det Gda Mangan has objected to a bail application from Lana Doherty, Jelveh’s solicitor. He said that it was the gardai’s strong belief that he would try to flee the jurisdiction. And Judge John Cheatle also rejected the bail.

He said that the allegations put forward against the defendant are so serious, and his links to the jurisdiction are so tenuous that it renders bail impossible.

Mr. Jelveh sat in jeans and a red puffer jacket and was remanded in custody to appear at the Wexford District Court via videolink on 9 October.

References: irishmirror.ie, independent.ie

Captain Of Cargo Ship Carrying €157million Worth Of Cocaine Appears In Wexford Court appeared first on Marine Insight – The Maritime Industry Guide

Source: Maritime Shipping News