Gardaí probing whether huge cocaine haul has link to Hezbollah
Military personnel onboard the MV Matthew as the Irish Navy escorted it into the Port of Cork after 2.2 tonnes of illicit drugs were found onboard and a number of arrests were made. Picture: Niall Carson/PA

SAT, 04 NOV, 2023 - 02:52
CORMAC O’KEEFFE, SECURITY CORRESPONDENT

An international investigation into the massive 2.2 tonne seizure of cocaine in Irish waters in September is examining links to Middle East militants Hezbollah and Iranian criminal gangs.

Gardaí are waiting to see if Dubai police — who visited Ireland a fortnight ago — will assist in this probe as well as wider investigations into the leaders of the Kinahan crime cartel based in the United Arab Emirates.

Gardaí are said to have been impressed by the “genuine willingness” of Dubai police to assist with these investigations, with authorities in the UAE under pressure from abroad to take action against European gang bosses based there.

The sprawling garda investigation into the seizure of 2.2 tonnes of cocaine on board the MV Matthew off the Cork coast — the biggest ever seizure of the drug in Ireland — has attracted considerable international attention, with a range of authorities from foreign countries looking to assist.

This is thought to include Colombia, where investigators believe the country’s biggest cartel, the Gulf Clan, organised the shipment.

The fact that the actual bulk cargo ship, the MV Matthew, was confiscated by Irish authorities, in a daring military operation, has set the seizure apart, investigators say.

Security sources believe the vessel was bought and operated by drug traffickers for the sole purpose of operating a “route” from South America into Europe.

Sources suspect the gang’s intention was to continue using the vessel for some years along the same route.

Investigators suspect the financing for this route goes back to the Middle East, taking in Dubai as well as possible links to Hezbollah — an Islamist militant organisation based in Lebanon — and Iranian criminals.

Sources said Hezbollah and Iranian gangs have been actively looking to “control the routes” from South America to Europe.

Last month, the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned a Lebanese and South American network of family members and business associates, including named “key Hezbollah operatives and financial facilitators”.

One of those named is actively linked to “illegal drug trafficking and money laundering” in South America, including a 500kg cocaine shipment hidden in fruit containers that was seized in El Salvador.

A number of Iranian nationals were on board the MV Matthew, and international investigations are continuing in relation to them, as well as a number of ethnic Russians.

In April 2022, OFAC sanctioned the three Kinahan leaders — Christopher Kinahan and his sons Daniel and Christopher Jr — with a combined €15m for information leading to their prosecution.

The Kinahan leaders and other senior lieutenants are still living in Dubai.

Gardaí are investigating whether any of the financing of the MV Matthew cocaine route is linked directly or indirectly to the cartel.

At the moment, it is suspected that people who have been in their circle or network are involved.

Investigations are also ongoing in South America, and officers believe that further charges could be taken abroad.