Bedroom drug dealer who laundered profits through cryptocurrency jailed for three years

'One-man-band' Felix Boo made tens of thousands of pounds buying drugs online and selling them connected the Telegram app, earlier attempting to launder the wealth by purchasing luxury Rolex watches and integer currencies.

The 24-year-old bought his drugs connected the acheronian web, but his transgression endeavor was discovered erstwhile Border Force officers intercepted a parcel containing astir 300g of cannabis destined for his father's code successful Whitstable, Kent.

After admitting possession with intent to proviso cannabis, cocaine and ketamine - and to the importation of cannabis - Boo was jailed for 3 years astatine Canterbury Crown Court.

The tribunal heard Boo masterminded his drugs cognition online from a chamber successful his dad's house.

At the 'click of a button', the then-21-year-old procured commercialized quantities of Class A and B drugs from arsenic acold distant arsenic America and sold them via the societal media level Telegram.

In a bid to evade authorities, Boo laundered tens of thousands of pounds done the acquisition of luxury watches and integer currency, making ample deposits into Monzo and Lloyds slope accounts.

But his strategy was unearthed successful May 2022 erstwhile Border Force intercepted a parcel containing cannabis weighing 289 grams bound for his address.

The shocking grade of Boo's offending surfaced erstwhile constabulary descended connected his code soon aft Border Force’s discovery, authoritative Jeremy Kingsford explained.

Not lone did officers prehend a haul of cannabis, cocaine and ketamine with a thoroughfare worth of up to £25,000, but they besides discovered £42,860 successful currency and different luxury items.

Among them were genuine Rolex watches, including a Sky Dweller and GMT Master II - which retail for much than £10,000 each.

Mr Kingsford explained that erstwhile officers uncovered 2 phones 'consistent with cause supply', Boo had refused to manus the passwords over.

The unit launched a probe into his finances aft helium claimed to beryllium unemployed and gave a ‘no comment’ constabulary interview.

The probe uncovered slope accounts with deposits of astir £60,000, including cryptocurrency, alongside an online Monzo relationship with a turnover of £50,000, the tribunal heard.

Supported by his parents successful the nationalist gallery, Boo could beryllium seen taking heavy breaths successful the dock earlier his condemnation was handed down.

Judge Simon James told Boo he'd made 'massive fiscal profits' that were 'laundered, by you, into crptocurrency'.

He described Boo arsenic the designer of a 'very profitable business' which allowed him to 'buy Rolex watches and different luxury items'.

“You had the quality to root cannabis implicit the net and usage the app Telegram to merchantability it widely, yet branching into selling ketamine and cocaine,” Judge James said.

“Commercial cause dealing connected this standard is excessively superior for thing but an contiguous word of imprisonment to beryllium justified.”

The tribunal heard Boo finished schoolhouse soon earlier the Covid-19 pandemic and, during lockdowns, became socially isolated successful his chamber with an intensifying cannabis habit.

Henry Hughes, mitigating, described Boo uncovering himself successful a satellite wherever the Class B cause could beryllium bought online 'with the property of a button'.

He said Boo’s immaturity and naivety saw him past go a 'one-man set dealing straight to users' by unsophisticated means.

Speaking of a clip Boo had a drugs bundle sent to his father’s address, Mr Hughes said: “The lone disguise helium utilized was putting an ‘n’ connected the extremity of his name.

“His household person nary transgression views oregon characteristics.

“He was brought up with the ethos of hard enactment and respect for the instrumentality and authority.”

Boo admitted 3 counts of possession with intent to proviso cannabis, cocaine and ketamine, to the import of cannabis, and to concealing, disguising, converting, transferring, oregon removing transgression property, namely money.