Professional footballer Jay Emmanuel-Thomas has been dismissed from Scottish football club Greenock Morton FC after being charged with orchestrating the attempted importation of a large quantity of drugs.
British Player Jay Emmanuel-Thomas Arrested in Drug Case
The 33-year-old striker was arrested at his home in Gourock, near Glasgow, on Wednesday and taken to Carlisle for questioning. The charges stem from an investigation by the National Crime Agency (NCA), which uncovered 60kg of cannabis, valued at £600,000, arriving at Stansted Airport from Bangkok. Emmanuel-Thomas, who previously played for clubs such as Arsenal, Ipswich Town, Bristol City, and Livingston, appeared in Carlisle Magistrates Court but did not enter a plea. However, his lawyer stated that the footballer “strenuously” denies any involvement in the alleged drug importation scheme.
Drug Smuggling Allegations and Arrest
The drug smuggling investigation began when officers from the NCA discovered a large shipment of cannabis concealed in suitcases arriving at Stansted Airport. Two women, aged 28 and 32, were arrested in connection with the incident. Prosecutor Diane Jackson revealed that the women had traveled business class from Bangkok to the UK via Dubai. One of the arrested women is said to be the partner of Emmanuel-Thomas.
The authorities seized four suitcases, two of which contained 29kg of cannabis, with the remaining two containing 31kg. After questioning, both women were charged with drug importation offenses and appeared before Chelmsford Magistrates Court. They were granted bail and are scheduled to appear at Chelmsford Crown Court in October.
Emmanuel-Thomas was arrested at his residence at 8:00 AM on Wednesday in a joint operation between NCA officers and Police Scotland. The court heard that phone evidence allegedly showed he had extensively researched flight details and airports where the women had traveled. According to the prosecutor, this was not the first time he had allegedly arranged such trips.
Legal Proceedings and Strenuous Denial
At Carlisle Magistrates Court, Emmanuel-Thomas’s defense lawyer, Nathaniel Gadsby, emphasized that the footballer strongly denied any involvement in the alleged drug importation. Gadsby described Emmanuel-Thomas as a man of good character with no previous convictions, highlighting his long professional football career with top teams across the UK. Despite this, District Judge Steven Jonas ruled that the charge was too serious to be handled in a magistrates’ court and would proceed to crown court. Emmanuel-Thomas was remanded in custody after a bail application was rejected. The judge treated his lack of a formal plea as a not-guilty plea for administrative purposes.
Termination from Greenock Morton FC
Following Emmanuel-Thomas’s court appearance, Greenock Morton FC announced that his contract with the club had been terminated with immediate effect. The striker had only signed a six-month contract with the Scottish Championship side in July.
The arrest comes amid growing warnings from the NCA about drug smuggling from countries such as Thailand, Canada, and the United States. The agency has reported a surge in arrests related to cannabis importation, with seizures in 2024 already tripling the total for 2023. NCA senior investigating officer David Phillips reiterated that the agency is committed to targeting both couriers and organizers involved in drug smuggling and warned individuals about the severe consequences of engaging in such criminal activities. The maximum sentence for cannabis importation in the UK is up to 14 years in prison.
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