A former Manchester City player was jailed for five years for directing a drug money laundering racket.
Ryan McDowell -who was a youth player for Manchester City - and his cronies delivered piles of drugs cash stuffed into suitcases and bin bags to other criminals.
The technique is known as 'cuckoo smurfing', which allows criminals to move cash from one bank to another undetected.
McDowell, 33, of Rainhill, was jailed at Liverpool Crown Court after being observed channelling at least £550,000 through the 'professional' network of money launderers, and an additional £142,000 through his own bank accounts.