Former Arsenal striker Jay Emmanuel-Thomas has been charged with drug importation following the seizure of cannabis valued at approximately £600,000 at Stansted Airport.
The 33-year-old footballer, currently playing for Greenock Morton in Scotland, was arrested by the National Crime Agency, NCA, on Wednesday morning after authorities discovered around 60 kilograms of the Class B drug concealed within two suitcases that had arrived on a flight from Bangkok on September 2.
Dad-of-two Emmanuel-Thomas, of Cardwell Road, Gourock, faces one charge. This alleges drug importation and specifically that he was concerned in the fraudulent evasion of a prohibition on the importation of a class B drug — cannabis. Court papers show the offence is alleged to have been committed on September 2 this year in the London area.
During a 15-minute court hearing, Emmanuel-Thomas — who captained Arsenal to Youth Cup final success in 2009 — spoke clearly to confirm his name, date of birth and address.
No plea was entered to the charge when it was read to him by the court legal advisor on the instruction of his lawyer, Nathaniel Gadsby. “There is no indication of plea. “There is scant information (on the court file); just four witness statements.
“It is pretty much impossible to tell what is even charged, I’m afraid,” Mr Gadsby confirmed.
Mr Gadsby said of Emmanuel-Thomas: “He does strenuously deny any involvement in any plan to import drugs into the UK. He is eager to clear his name at trial.”
The solicitor also said: “Mr Emmanuel-Thomas is a 33-year-old man, good character, no convictions. He has been a professional football player for all his adult life and played at a number of top teams across the UK.”
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Prosecutor Diane Jackson told the court how two women — one of whom, she said, is the partner of Emmanuel-Thomas — had been arrested after travelling into the UK, business class, from Bangkok via Dubai.
A total of four suitcases were said to have been seized. Some 29kg of cannabis were spread across two of these, with 31kg contained in the remaining two. The estimated total potential street value of the drug was £600,000.
Phone evidence was said to have been collected by law enforcement officers. And Mrs Jackson alleged of Emmanuel-Thomas: “It shows that he carried out extensive research into flights and directions; which airports the females had been coming into. It is said this is not the first trip he has arranged.”
For the purposes of administration, the district judge said he was treating Emmanuel-Thomas’ no plea as a not guilty plea.
A legal advisor said the charge was such that it could be dealt with at a magistrates’ or crown court.
Deputy district judge Jonas ruled the allegation was too serious to be dealt with in a magistrates’ court.
Emmanuel-Thomas was remanded in custody after an application for bail was rejected.
His case was sent for a plea and trial preparation hearing, initially to Carlisle Crown Court, on October 18.
Emmanuel-Thomas’s appearance in court follows the arrest of two women, aged 28 and 32, at Stansted on September 2. Border Force are said to have detected around 60 kilos of the drug in a number suitcases which had arrived on a flight from Bangkok.
After being questioned by the NCA both were charged with drug importation offences. They were bailed during an initial magistrates’ court hearing to appear at Chelmsford Crown Court on October 1.
Emmanuel-Thomas has played for a host of professional clubs north and south of the border during the past 15 years. These include Ipswich Town, Bristol City, QPR and Aberdeen.
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