Ex-Crystal Palace player jailed for 14 years over £2.36m crystal meth bust
Former Crystal Palace defender Michael Boateng has been sentenced to 14 years in prison after police seized £2.36 million worth of crystal meth from his flat. The 34-year-old was found to have a “significant role” in an organised crime group, according to the judge.
Police discovered 19.7kg of the Class A drug in a Slazenger sports bag during a raid on his Croydon flat on Valentine’s Day 2024. This is considered one of the largest crystal meth seizures ever made in the UK.
Boateng, who was already on bail for previous drug offenses, pleaded guilty to intent to supply crystal meth, cocaine, and MDMA. He had been arrested in September 2023 after a police stop in Bromley, where he was caught with various drugs and cash. A subsequent search of his home uncovered more drugs, leading to charges and strict bail conditions.
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Prosecutors at Croydon Crown Court stated that Boateng was a trusted member of the group, tasked with guarding a large shipment of crystal meth. The drugs had a wholesale value of up to £400,000 and a street value of over £2.3 million. CCTV footage showed him receiving the bag a week before the raid.
His defense lawyer, Paul Crampin, suggested that Boateng may have been coerced, citing a credible death threat he received in 2022 and his struggles with drug use after personal difficulties.
However, Judge Daniel Flahive dismissed the idea that Boateng’s role was minimal, pointing to the large quantity of drugs and the fact that the crime was committed while he was on bail.
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The judge explained that the lengthy sentence was a reflection of the operation’s scale and Boateng’s trusted position.
Boateng’s football career included time at Crystal Palace’s academy and clubs such as Bristol Rovers and Newport County. His career ended following a 2013 match-fixing probe, which resulted in a prison sentence, a lifetime football ban, and later, drug dealing convictions in 2015.
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