Former Arsenal striker Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, 33, has been charged with importing drugs after ‘£600,000 of cannabis’ was seized at Stansted Airport.
The Greenock Morton striker, who joined the club earlier this summer on a free transfer, was arrested at 8am on Wednesday after UK Border Force officials found the substance inside several suitcases which had arrived in the United Kingdom on a flight from Bangkok on September 2.
According to the National Crime Agency (NCA) around 60 kilograms of the drug were found in two suitcases.
NCA officers subsequently detained the footballer – who was once described by Arsene Wenger as having ‘outstanding quality’ – and has since been charged with importing class B drugs.
The 33-year-old has been held in police custody and is expected to appear at Carlisle Magistrates on Thursday in relation to the charges. Mail Sport has contacted Greenock Morton, who have not commented on the matter.
Former Arsenal striker Jay Emmanuel-Thomas has been charged in connection with importing cannabis
Approximately £600,000 worth of Cannabis was seized at Stansted Airport in two suitcases
Two women were also arrested in connection with the seizure of the drugs, which are said to have weighed around 60kgs
Two women, aged 28 and 32 had also been arrested at Stansted Airport, according to the NCA, and were also charged with drug importation offences.
Both were issued bail after appearing before Chelmsford Magistrates Court and are due to appear at Chelmsford Crown Court on October 1.
Senior Investigating Officer for the NCA, 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.’
Emmanuel-Thomas joined Arsenal’s youth academy when he was eight years old but failed to have an impact in the first-team after graduating from the Gunners’ academy.
He made his Premier League debut for the club during a 2-0 defeat by Chelsea in October 2010. A month later he would make his Champoins League bow in a 2-1 defeat by Shakhtar, before leaving Arsenal to join Ipswich for £1.1million in 2011.
Emmanuel-Thomas was 19 when he made his debut for Arsenal’s men’s senior side and had notably impressed legendary Gunners manager Wenger having also helped the club clinch the FA Youth Cup during the 2008-09 season.
Emmanuel-Thomas joined Arsenal at age eight and went on to make his debut for the club in 2010, before joining Ipswich a year later
The 33-year-old has posted several pictures of himself on Instagram, enjoying holidays around the world, including to the Renaissance Pattaya Resort in Thailand (pictured)
Emmanuel-Thomas (second from left) won the FA Youth Cup with Arsenal in 2009, alongside Jack Wilshere (left) Shanchez Watt (second from right) and Cedric Evina (right)
Emmanuel-Thomas was also once described by Arsene Wenger as having ‘outstanding quality’ and had ‘big potential’
During his professional career, the footballer also played for Bristol City, QPR, MK Dons and Gillingham
‘Jay is knocking very hard on my door – with two hands. He has outstanding quality,’ the ex-Arsenal boss told Arsenal TV Online back in 2010, per ESPN. ‘He works very hard to get his fitness right. When his fitness is right, Jay will be not only a good player but a great player.
‘One thing is for sure – he can score goals. That is a massive talent you cannot give to people, his right foot, left foot, he is unbelievable in front of goal.
‘This guy is an unbelievable finisher, inside and outside of the box. He has outstanding qualities, he has the build you dream to have. It is down to how far he wants to go because he has big potential.’
Speaking to Mail Sport on his Arsenal departure in 2015, Emmanuel-Thomas admitted that he wanted more regular first-team action and decided to move to Ipswich.
He said: ‘I didn’t want to be that guy to keep coming in and out when people were injured and fit again, so I had to move on.’
In a separate interview, he said: ‘Obviously it came to the stage in my career at Arsenal where I needed to be playing games. I had a decision to make and Ipswich seemed the right place for me.
‘I had a good time at Arsenal and I’m going to miss all the boys but my future is about me and I needed to move on.’
Emmanuel-Thomas scored 33 goals across 103 games for Bristol City between 2013 and 2015
The 33-year-old is expected to appear before Carlisle Magistrates on Thursday over the charges
The 33-year-old is expected to appear before Carlisle Magistrates on Thursday over the charges
After spells at Bristol city, QPR and Gillingham, the 33-year-old left the UK to play for Thailand side PTT Rayong FC. But Emmanuel-Thomas would later return to the United Kingdom and in recent years, has played for Livingston, Aberdeen and Kidderminster.
On his style of football, Emmanuel-Thomas also told Mail Sport: ‘On a football pitch when something comes in my head I never think: “I’d better not do that in case I lose the ball”. I am more a person who will think: “If I try that it will work”.’