UK national pleads guilty to drug offence following largest seizure of cocaine in State's history

Eoin Reynolds

A UK national has pleaded guilty to a drugs offence arising from a raid on a Panamanian cargo ship off the southeast coast that resulted in the largest cocaine seizure in the history of the State.

Jamie Harbron (31) of South Avenue, Billingham in the UK pleaded guilty of Thursday before the three-judge, non-jury Special Criminal Court that on a date between September 21st and September 25th, 2023, both dates inclusive, he attempted to have cocaine in his possession for the purpose of sale or supply, an offence under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

Harbron is charged with a further offence that he contributed to an activity intending or being reckless as to whether such activity could facilitate an organised crime group in the commission of a serious offence.

Eight men including Mr Harbron have been charged with offences after some 2.25 tonnes of cocaine with an estimated value of more than €157 million was seized from the Panamanian-registered large bulk carrier MV Matthew in Irish waters in September 2023.

The remaining seven are due to go on trial in January, when Harbron will also appear before the court to set a date for his sentencing.

Michael O'Higgins SC, for Harbron, told the court that he will argue that his client has entered an "early guilty plea", which is considered strong mitigation for an offender and typically results in a 25 per cent reduction from the headline sentence set by the court.

On September 26th, 2023, a joint task force comprising members of the Revenue Customs Service, Naval Service and An Garda Síochána interdicted and detained the MV Matthew, which was on a course originating in South America.

After Army Rangers secured the vessel, members of the navy, the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB) and Revenue were transferred to the cargo vessel and the ship was then escorted into port.

Having maintained the ship, at a cost of €100,000 per week, the State has now begun the process of disposing of the MV Matthew after lawyers for the accused said they no longer need it to be kept available for inspection.

Harbron remains in custody ahead of sentencing.