An ex-Arsenal star has been charged after £600,000 of cannabis was seized at London Stansted airport.
Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, who came through the youth academy at the Emirates Stadium, was detained and questioned by National Crime Agency officers at Stansted on suspicion of orchestrating the attempted drug smuggling.
The 33-year-old was arrested in Inverclyde, Scotland, just after 8am on Wednesday (September 18) in an operation supported by officers from Police Scotland. He was then taken across the English border to Carlisle, where he was questioned by the authorities.
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Emmanuel-Thomas’ arrest comes after 60kg of the Class B drug was discovered hidden in two suitcases that had been transported on a flight from Bangkok to Stansted on September 2.
Two women, aged 28 and 32, have also been arrested as part of the drugs bust. They have been charged with drug importation offences and appeared before Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court before being bailed.
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
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Emmanuel-Thomas has been remanded in custody and is expected to appear at Carlisle Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, September 19. The 33-year-old made one appearance for Arsenal in the Premier League, coming on as a substitute for Jack Wilshere in the 81st minute against Chelsea in 2011.
However, despite praise from Arsene Wenger, he wouldn’t make another appearance. Emmanuel-Thomas would drop down the leagues – turning out for Ipswich Town, Bristol City and QPR before moving to Thailand.
He would return to British shores in 2020 after signing with Livingston, he has since played for Aberdeen and Kidderminster Harriers. He’s currently on the books of Greenock Morton, signing a six-month deal with the club earlier this summer.