A former star player for the Cincinnati Reds has pleaded guilty to his role in a plot to smuggle cannabis worth over £600,000 into the United Kingdom, authorities confirmed today.
The ex-MLB athlete, whose identity is being withheld pending further legal proceedings, was arrested earlier this year after a joint operation by the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) and US federal agents uncovered an international drug trafficking scheme. According to prosecutors, the smuggling ring attempted to bring high-grade cannabis into the UK disguised within shipments of legitimate goods.
In a hearing at Southwark Crown Court, the former baseball player admitted to conspiring to import a Class B drug with intent to supply. The court heard that he used his transatlantic connections and celebrity status to avoid suspicion while coordinating shipments from the United States to warehouses in London and Manchester.
“This is a significant conviction. The defendant used his public profile and business acumen to facilitate a criminal enterprise with serious implications for public health and safety,” said NCA spokesperson Deborah Hill.
The sentencing has been scheduled for next month. Legal experts suggest the former athlete could face a lengthy prison term, given the scale and sophistication of the operation.
The Cincinnati Reds organization has yet to release an official statement but is reportedly cooperating with investigators.
