SA soccer prodigy sentenced after importing $250k worth of cocaine

A teen soccer star with dreams of playing nationally was a “leading member” of an African street gang when he imported $250,000 in cocaine, a court has heard.

An aspiring teenage soccer star with hopes to play for a National Premier League team was a “leading member” of an African street gang when he imported nearly 700g of cocaine from the UK with a street value of $250,000, a court has heard.

The young man, 19, appeared in the District Court last week in front of Judge Paul Muscat for sentencing after pleading guilty to one count of importing a marketable quantity of a border controlled drug.

The teen, who the court heard was also “contemplating” joining a bikie gang, cannot be identified for legal reasons due to the offending occurring when he was just 17 years old.

James Caldicott, for the teen, told the court his client had aspirations to play elite-level football while out on bail.

The court heard there was a “view that if he’s able to play this year” he would likely be signed as a development player for a upper-level team.

“(There’s) a view that if he’s able to play this year – one good year in the NPL – that Adelaide United would likely sign him into the future, at least as a development player,” Mr Caldicott said.

In December 2022, the teen’s co-accused – who the court heard is associated with a bikie gang and was involved in “serious drug trafficking” prior to the offending – arranged for a shipment of cocaine to be imported into Australia from the United Kingdom, the court was told.

The shipment arrived in Australia on January 10, 2023, and contained 837g of powder – of which almost 680g was cocaine worth an estimated street value of $250,000.

At the time of the cocaine’s arrival into the country, Judge Muscat noted the teen was in custody for breaching a home detention bail agreement and had arranged for his cousin to collect the drugs instead.

“The evidence established that you were aspiring to operate your own drug trafficking business,” he said.

“When you were at school, you became involved with an African street gang as a form of social connection and as an outlet for violence. You joined the gang when aged 15 years and, by the age of 16 years, you were completely immersed in the gang’s activities and considered to be one of its senior members.

“By all accounts you are a talented soccer player and have aspirations to play at a high level. A number of your friends are already playing professionally, including overseas.

“I strongly believe that you are at the crossroads. Such an expression can be overused but, in your case, it has acute meaning, especially given your young age.”

Despite offending as a youth, Judge Muscat sentenced the teen as an adult to two years and seven months imprisonment – suspended upon entering into a recognisance order to be of good behaviour for two years.

Originally published as SA soccer prodigy sentenced after importing $250k worth of cocaine