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Rolexes and crypto: How Whitstable dealer selling drugs from bedroom hid ‘massive profits’

A young drug dealer who made tens of thousands of pounds attempted to hide his massive profits by pumping cash into plush Rolex watches and cryptocurrency.

“One man band” Felix Boo masterminded a huge operation buying and selling narcotics online from a bedroom in his dad’s Whitstable home.

Felix Boo, 24, of Whitstable, was jailed at Canterbury Crown Court for three years for drugs offences and money laundering
Felix Boo, 24, of Whitstable, was jailed at Canterbury Crown Court for three years for drugs offences and money laundering

At the “click of a button”, the then-21-year-old procured commercial quantities of Class A and B drugs from as far away as America, then sold them via social media platform Telegram.

In a bid to evade the authorities, Boo laundered tens of thousands through luxury watches and digital currency, and made large deposits into Monzo and Lloyds bank accounts.

But his hi-tech scheme was unearthed when, in May 2022, Border Force intercepted a parcel containing cannabis weighing 289 grams bound for his Clifton Road address.

Boo, now 24, was placed behind bars for three years during his sentencing hearing at Canterbury Crown Court on Wednesday.

The shocking extent of his offending surfaced when police descended on his address shortly after Border Force’s discovery, prosecutor Jeremy Kingsford explained.

Felix Boo, of Whitstable, was 21 when he was caught laundering tens of thousands of pounds by buying Rolex watches and cryptocurrency. Picture: Facebook
Felix Boo, of Whitstable, was 21 when he was caught laundering tens of thousands of pounds by buying Rolex watches and cryptocurrency. Picture: Facebook

Not only did officers seize a cannabis, cocaine and ketamine haul with a street value up to £25,000, they found £42,860 in cash and other luxury items.

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

When officers uncovered two phones “consistent with drug supply”, Boo refused to hand the passwords over.

The force launched a probe into his finances after he claimed to be unemployed and gave a ‘no comment’ police interview.

It uncovered bank accounts with deposits of £58,859, including cryptocurrency, alongside an online Monzo account with a £50,000 turnover, the court heard.

Canterbury Crown Court. Picture: Stock image
Canterbury Crown Court. Picture: Stock image

Supported by his parents in the public gallery, Boo could be seen taking deep breaths in the dock before his sentence was handed down.

Judge Simon James told Boo he made “massive financial profits laundered, by you, into cryptocurrency”.

He described Boo as the architect of a “very profitable business” allowing him to “buy Rolex watches and other luxury items”.

“You had the ability to source cannabis over the internet and use the app Telegram to sell it widely, eventually branching into selling ketamine and cocaine,” he added.

“Commercial drug dealing on this scale is too serious for anything but an immediate term of imprisonment to be justified.”

Cannabis Border Force intercepted bound for Felix Boo's Whitstable home
Cannabis Border Force intercepted bound for Felix Boo's Whitstable home

The court heard Boo finished school shortly before the Covid-19 pandemic then, during lockdowns, became socially isolated in his bedroom with an intensifying cannabis habit.

Henry Hughes, mitigating, described Boo finding himself in a world where the Class B drug could be bought online “with the press of a button”.

He said Boo’s immaturity and naivety saw him then become a “one-man band dealing directly to users” by unsophisticated means.

Speaking of a time Boo had a drugs package sent to his father’s address, Mr Hughes said: “The only disguise he used was putting an ‘n’ on the end of his name.

“His family have no criminal views or characteristics.

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

Boo admitted at the magistrates’ court three counts of possession with intent to supply in respect of cannabis, cocaine and ketamine.

He also pleaded guilty to the import of cannabis, and concealing, disguising, converting, transferring, or removing criminal property, namely money.

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