Former Arsenal striker Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, 33, has been arrested and charged with smuggling cannabis valued at £600,000 into the UK. The drugs, weighing approximately 60 kilograms, were discovered by UK Border Force officials at Stansted Airport in two suitcases arriving from Bangkok on September 2.
Emmanuel-Thomas, currently playing for Greenock Morton, was taken into custody on Wednesday and faces charges of importing class B drugs. He is set to appear in court at Carlisle Magistrates Court. Two women, aged 28 and 32, were also arrested in connection with the case and are facing similar charges. They were granted bail and will appear in Chelmsford Crown Court on October 1.
David Phillips, Senior Investigating Officer at the National Crime Agency (NCA), emphasized their commitment to combatting drug smuggling, urging individuals to consider the severe consequences of participating in such activities.
Emmanuel-Thomas, once a promising talent under Arsène Wenger at Arsenal, has faced challenges in his football career, moving between clubs after leaving Arsenal in 2011.
