{"id":123986,"date":"2021-05-06T13:23:16","date_gmt":"2021-05-06T13:23:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/precoinnews.com\/?p=123986"},"modified":"2021-05-06T13:23:16","modified_gmt":"2021-05-06T13:23:16","slug":"ex-liverpool-footballer-faces-jail-after-police-smash-6m-drugs-ring","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/precoinnews.com\/world-news\/ex-liverpool-footballer-faces-jail-after-police-smash-6m-drugs-ring\/","title":{"rendered":"Ex-Liverpool footballer faces jail after police smash \u00a36m drugs ring"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>Liverpool footballer who came through ranks with Steven Gerard and Jamie Carragher and scored at Anfield faces jail after police smash \u00a36m drugs ring<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Layton Maxwell, 41, has admitted\u00a0conspiracy to supply the Class A drug cocaine<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Ex-footballer arrested as part of UK-wide police probe called Operation Venetic<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Operation is among biggest on record and saw seizure of \u00a38m in cash and drugs<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Maxwell, who scored on Anfield debut, saw career slump and left sport in 2010<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>He was bailed to return to Cardiff Crown Court in July for a further hearing to appear with other defendants who were arrested in the same police operation<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>A former Liverpool footballer is facing jail for being caught in a \u00a36million cocaine crime gang after quitting the professional game.<\/p>\n<p>Midfielder Layton Maxwell scored on his debut at Anfield &#8211; but turned drug-dealer after his career slumped as he slipped down the leagues.<\/p>\n<p>The 41-year-old was arrested as part of a UK-wide investigation into organised crime which saw millions of pounds worth of drugs and cash seized.<\/p>\n<p>Midfielder Maxwell, who also played for Cardiff City and Swansea City, came through the ranks at Anfield with England stars Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2021\/05\/06\/11\/42648956-9549569-image-a-16_1620298233326.jpg\" height=\"423\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p>Former Liverpool footballer Layton Maxwell (pictured outside Cardiff Crown Court) is facing prison after being caught in a \u00a36m cocaine crime gang after quitting the professional game<\/p>\n<p>He was highly rated and scored a goal on his senior debut at the famous Kop in a League Cup game against Hull in 1999.<\/p>\n<p>However, that proved to be Maxwell&#8217;s only appearance for the Reds and he was loaned to Stockport County for the rest of the season before eventually being transferred to Cardiff City.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The disgraced former star was arrested last year in an investigation linked to a National Crime Agency probe known as Operation Venetic.<\/p>\n<p>Raids were carried out after officers busted open an encrypted messaging service that had been used by gang leaders.<\/p>\n<p>Maxwell was one of dozens of suspects held &#8211; and appeared in Cardiff Crown Court to admit conspiracy to supply the Class A drug cocaine.<\/p>\n<p>Assistant Chief Constable Dave Thorne, said the raids in south Wales alone resulted in &#8216;two tonnes of drugs and millions of pounds in cash recovered.&#8217;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2021\/05\/06\/11\/42648958-9549569-image-a-17_1620298282238.jpg\" height=\"370\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p>Pictured: Maxwell, who came up through the ranks with Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher, has admitted one count of conspiracy to supply the class A drug cocaine at court today<\/p>\n<p>He added: &#8216;Officers have seized 60kgs of cocaine, crack cocaine and heroin with an estimated street value of \u00a36,000,000. In addition more than \u00a32.5 million in cash has also been seized.<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;Illegal drugs have no place in our society and we will continue to work together to target those whose criminal activities blight the lives of the communities of southern Wales.<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;We are committed to disrupting and dismantling organised crime groups, bringing people before the courts and removing drugs from our streets.&#8217;<\/p>\n<p>Maxwell, of Rhiwbina, Cardiff, wore a dark suit with a black shirt and red tie to the short hearing where he pleaded guilty to the charge.<\/p>\n<p>He was bailed to return to court in July for a further hearing to appear with other defendants arrested in the same probe.<\/p>\n<p>After leaving Swansea City, Maxwell dropped through the divisions before seeing out his career in the League of Wales including spells at Bangor City and Caernarfon.<\/p>\n<p>When he retired from football he became an engineer with Vodafone and also took charge of Cardiff Draconians in Welsh football&#8217;s third tier but stepped down in December due to increased work commitments.<\/p>\n<p>Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.co.uk\/news\/article-9549569\/Former-Liverpool-footballer-faces-jail-police-smash-6m-drugs-ring.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read Full Article<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Liverpool footballer who came through ranks with<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":123985,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[23056],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v21.7 - 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