The 34-year-old was arrested on February 14, 2024, when police found 19.7kg of the Class A drug in a sports bag at his Croydon flat, where he lived with his girlfriend and infant son. Boateng admitted supplying crystal meth, cocaine, and MDMA at Croydon Crown Court in September. Judge Daniel Flahive said he played a significant role in an organised crime group, reports the Sun.
The court heard the crystal meth had a wholesale value of £200,000 to £400,000, with a potential street value of up to £2.36 million. CCTV footage showed Boateng collecting the bag outside his home seven days before the police raid. During sentencing, Judge Flahive said, as quoted by the Sun’s report: You were playing a significant role in the drug dealing enterprise. Your role was not minimal. The amount of drugs we are talking about, just shy of 20kg, the value at street level, we are talking potentially millions of pounds.
The judge added that the sentence reflected “the sheer quantity of drugs you were looking after” and noted the offence was committed while Boateng was on bail for earlier drug charges. Former Crystal Palace youth player Michael Boateng has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for drug offences involving nearly 20 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine.
The 34-year-old was arrested on February 14, 2024, when police found 19.7kg of the Class A drug in a sports bag at his Croydon flat, where he lived with his girlfriend and infant son. Boateng admitted supplying crystal meth, cocaine, and MDMA at Croydon Crown Court in September. Judge Daniel Flahive said he played a significant role in an organised crime group, reports the Sun.
The court heard the crystal meth had a wholesale value of £200,000 to £400,000, with a potential street value of up to £2.36 million. CCTV footage showed Boateng collecting the bag outside his home seven days before the police raid. During sentencing, Judge Flahive said, as quoted by the Sun’s report: You were playing a significant role in the drug dealing enterprise. Your role was not minimal. The amount of drugs we are talking about, just shy of 20kg, the value at street level, we are talking potentially millions of pounds.
The judge added that the sentence reflected “the sheer quantity of drugs you were looking after” and noted the offence was committed while Boateng was on bail for earlier drug charges. His girlfriend, mother of their 18-month-old child, appeared stunned when the judge announced the verdict.
Defence barrister Paul Crampin told the court Boateng had received an Osman Warning from police in 2022, indicating a credible threat to his life. This caused his then-partner to refuse him access to their family, leading to depression and drug use. Crampin said Boateng became “involved in the small scale supply of drugs to essentially people he knew” to “fund his own Class A drug habit.” The court heard Boateng had worked as a personal trainer between 2018 and 2023, with clients including England footballer Jadon Sancho.
Defense barrister Paul Crampin told the court Boateng had received an Osman Warning from police in 2022, indicating a credible threat to his life. This caused his then-partner to refuse him access to their family, leading to depression and drug use. Crampin said Boateng became “involved in the small scale supply of drugs to essentially people he knew” to “fund his own Class A drug habit.” The court heard Boateng had worked as a personal trainer between 2018 and 2023, with clients including England footballer Jadon Sancho.
