Former Crystal Palace defender Michael Kwame Adusei Boateng has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for his central role in a major drug trafficking operation by the Croydon Crown Court in the UK.

The 34-year-old, who previously served a 16-month prison term in 2014 and received a lifetime ban from football for attempted match-fixing, was arrested on Valentine’s Day 2024 after police seized 19.7kg of crystal meth from his home.

The drugs were valued between £1.18 million and £2.36 million, making it one of the largest crystal meth seizures in UK history.

Boateng first appeared in court on 16 February 2024, charged with possession of Class A drugs with intent to supply.

Later, on 10 September 2024, he admitted to possessing crystal meth, cocaine, and MDMA with intent to supply. He was remanded in custody before being formally sentenced.

This marks the third time Boateng has been jailed. In June 2014, he was convicted of match-fixing and sentenced to 16 months.

The following year, in 2015, he was imprisoned again for drug-related offences.

Born in Peckham, London, to Ghanaian parents, Boateng began his career as a right-back at Crystal Palace before moving through the English football pyramid, featuring for Carshalton Athletic, Bristol Rovers, Bromley, and Newport County, among other non-league sides.