Former Liverpool footballer jailed for eight years for role in £6m drug racket

A former Liverpool midfielder has been given an eight-year jail sentence after admitting to being part of a drug racket that saw 60kg of cocaine and heroin plus more than £2.5m in cash being seized by police.

Layton Maxwell, with an address at Rhiwbina, Cardiff, scored in front of the Kop on his Liverpool debut in 1999 but failed to make a lasting impact at Anfield and slipped down the pyramid. He was arrested as part of a UK-wide investigation called Operation Venetic and during sentencing at Cardiff Crown Court on Friday morning, Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke described it as a "dirty trade bringing misery to many."

Maxwell, who was one of eight people sentenced for a combined 80 years with additional gang members awaiting their fates, allowed a gang to use his home for storage and was described in court as a "courier."

Prosecutors said that drugs, money and weighing equipment were found in his Cardiff house and he received £500-a-month from the gang for using it as a safehouse.

Assistant Chief Constable Dave Thorne said: "Officers have seized 60kg of cocaine, crack cocaine and heroin with an estimated street value of £6,000,000. In addition more than £2.5 million in cash has also been seized.

"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.

"We are committed to disrupting and dismantling organised crime groups, bringing people before the courts and removing drugs from our streets."

Maxwell, 43, did not make another appearance for Liverpool's first team after scoring their second goal in a 4-2 League Cup win over Hull City. He ended up going on loan to Stockport County before joining Cardiff City, Swansea City and then embarking on a tour of the Welsh leagues.

After hanging up his boots he became an engineer with Vodafone and managed in the Welsh third tier.

"I scored and you really think you've made it when that happens," Maxwell said not long after his sole first-team appearance at Anfield.

"Not many players score at the Kop on their Liverpool debut. It was some night after that game but I soon came back down to earth because I was training with the reserves the following week."

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