Former Arsenal striker Jay Emmanuel-Thomas has been charged following the seizure of cannabis worth an estimated £600,000.
The 33-year-old, who now plays for Greenock Morton in the Scottish Championship, was detained and questioned by National Crime Agency (NCA) officers on Wednesday after 60 kilograms of drugs were detected in suitcases which had arrived on a flight from Bangkok to Stansted Airport on September 2.
He has been remanded in custody and will appear at Carlisle Magistrates’ Court on Thursday accused of importing class B drugs.
Emmanuel-Thomas’ arrest follows the arrest of two women aged 28 and 32 at Stansted. Both were charged with drug importation offences and later appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court before being bailed to appear at Chelmsford Crown Court on October 1.
The NCA has warned travellers from Thailand, Canada and the United States that they face jail sentences if they are caught attempting to bring cannabis into the country.
The maximum sentence for cannabis importation in the UK is 14 years in prison.
Emmanuel-Thomas (middle) won the FA Youth Cup with Arsenal in 2009 (Jamie McDonald/Getty Images
NCA senior investigating officer David Phillips said: “The NCA continues to work with partners like Border Force to target those involved in drug smuggling — that includes both the couriers and the organisers.
“We would appeal to anyone who is approached to engage in any kind of smuggling to think very carefully about the likely consequences of their actions, and the potentially life-changing risks they will be taking.”
Greenock Morton told The Athletic: “The club is aware of an ongoing situation. At present, the club will be making no comment.”
Emmanuel-Thomas came through Arsenal’s academy, joining the club aged eight and later captaining the side that won the FA Youth Cup in 2009.
He made a single senior appearance for Arsenal, an FA Cup tie against Stoke City in 2010, before leaving a year later.
Emmanuel-Thomas went on to play for Ipswich Town, Bristol City and Queens Park Rangers as well as spells in Thailand and India before joining Greenock Morton earlier this year.
(Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
