A 30-year-old man has become the first accused to be returned for trial by judge and jury in connection with the biggest ever drugs seizure in the history of the state when over 2.2 tonnes of cocaine, worth €157 million, was seized aboard a freighter off Cork.
Harold Estoesta was a crew member aboard the MV Matthew when it was detained in a Joint Task Force Operation involving customs, gardaí and navy when Army Rangers boarded the ship at sea off the coast of east Cork in the early hours of September 26th, 2023.
A Filipino national, Mr Estoesta was later arrested by gardaí and charged with conspiring with others to possess cocaine worth more than €13,000 in the state for supply on September 24th, 2023 contrary to Section 15A of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977.
When he was charged, Mr Estoesta replied: “I believe that I just followed the orders of my seniors. I was also tricked and informed that they were spare parts. I wish to defend myself against accusations. I believe I was innocent and deserve to be free.”
Today, Mr Estoesta appeared at Mallow District Court where court presenter, Sgt Linda O’Leary told Judge John King that gardaí had received DPP directions on the matter and the DPP had directed that Mr Estoesta be tried on indictment at Circuit Court level before a judge and jury.
Sgt O’Leary applied for a remand in continuing custody until March 26th and solicitor, David O’Meara, deputising for Mr Estoesta’s solicitor, Aidan Desmond, said that his client was consenting to the three week remand.
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