Drug Trafficking Ship With Links To Wexford Has Been Sold

The MV Matthew drug trafficking ship has been sold and will be leaving Cork today. 

The vessel has been in Cork Harbour since September 2023 at a cost to the State of 16 million euro. 

The MV Matthew became one of the biggest organised crime investigations in the history of the State after more than two tonnes of cocaine were seized during a major operation off the south-east coast.

The vessel was intercepted by Irish authorities in September 2023 as part of a joint operation involving An Garda Síochána, the Revenue Customs Service and the Defence Forces.

The ship was carrying approximately 2.2 tonnes of cocaine, with an estimated street value of around €157 million — the largest cocaine seizure ever recorded in Ireland at the time.

The case had a strong Wexford connection with the captain of the vessel appearing before Wexford District Court following the seizure.

A second vessel, the fishing boat FV Castlemore, was also linked to the operation.

It was involved in the planned transfer of the drugs but later ran into difficulty and went aground off the Wexford coast.

Those on board were rescued by the Coast Guard.

The seizure prompted a major investigation into international drug trafficking networks and led to a number of court proceedings.