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ATH
Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, a former professional footballer known for his stints with Arsenal, Ipswich Town, and Bristol City, has been arrested in connection with a major drug smuggling operation.
The 33-year-old was charged after the National Crime Agency (NCA) seized approximately £600,000 (Ksh103 million) worth of cannabis at Stansted Airport, an incident that has sent ripples through the sports community.
Emmanuel-Thomas was apprehended on September 18 in Inverclyde, Scotland, shortly after the NCA’s significant drug bust earlier this month.
The cannabis, weighing around 60 kilograms, was discovered in two suitcases that had arrived on a flight from Bangkok, Thailand, on September 2.
The operation marks one of several recent efforts by the NCA to combat the rising tide of drug smuggling into the UK.
The player, who has represented England at youth level, has seen his football career take a nosedive following his arrest.
His club, Greenock Morton, has terminated his contract with immediate effect, leaving his future in the sport uncertain.
Emmanuel-Thomas appeared in Carlisle Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, where he was charged with importing class B drugs.
He entered no plea and has been remanded in custody until his next court appearance scheduled for October 18.
In addition to Emmanuel-Thomas, two women aged 28 and 32 have also been arrested in connection with the investigation and are set to appear in Chelmsford Crown Court on October 1.
The NCA’s senior investigating officer, David Phillips, emphasized the importance of caution for travelers, particularly those coming from countries with high levels of drug trafficking. “We appeal to anyone considering engaging in smuggling to think carefully about the potential life-changing consequences,” he stated.
