Footballer Jay Emmanuel-Thomas Charged Over £600,000 Cannabis Smuggling Attempt
Professional footballer Jay Emmanuel-Thomas has been charged in connection with an alleged attempt to smuggle £600,000 worth of cannabis through Stansted Airport. The 33-year-old striker, currently playing for Scottish Championship side Greenock Morton, was arrested by National Crime Agency (NCA) officers early on Wednesday in Gourock, Inverclyde.
Emmanuel-Thomas, a former player for clubs including Livingston, Aberdeen, and Ipswich Town, was detained at his home on Cardwell Road and questioned by officers. He has since been remanded in custody and is set to appear in Carlisle Magistrates' Court on Thursday, facing charges of importing class B drugs.
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The arrest follows the seizure of approximately 60kg of cannabis, discovered in two suitcases by Border Force officers at Stansted Airport on September 2. The suitcases had arrived on a flight from Bangkok, Thailand.
Two women, aged 28 and 32, were also arrested in connection with the smuggling attempt. They have been bailed to appear before Chelmsford Crown Court on October 1, following an earlier appearance at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court.
NCA senior investigating officer David Phillips warned against involvement in drug smuggling, highlighting the serious risks and consequences, including lengthy prison sentences. The agency has issued warnings to travellers from countries like Thailand, Canada, and the United States about the dangers of smuggling cannabis, as arrests have surged in recent months. Cannabis seizures this year have already tripled compared to 2023.
Greenock Morton has declined to comment on the situation involving their player.