Former Arsenal Prayer Jailed For Drug-dealing

A former Arsenal youth player Christian Toonga, who played a ‘significant’ role selling heroin and cocaine for a gang of dealers has been jailed for two-and-a-half years.



The 19 year old, who claimed he was pressured into working for the Custom House gang when he was arrested at a property in Sherborne, Wiltshire, last year, was part of so called ‘cuckooing’ operation where gangs set up shop in the homes of vulnerable individuals.

The midfielder said he was approached while playing for League One team AFC Wimbledon and felt he had no choice to because he felt ‘threatened’, Snaresbrook Crown Court heard.


He helped to move gang members into the home of a woman who felt powerless to resist them.

Police raided the property in School View Close, Sherborne on 1 June 2016 where they arrested Toonga, the court heard.

He was caught with three wraps of cocaine, 29 wraps of heroin, £700 and mobile phones with text messages ‘demonstrating his considerable involvement.’