Former Arsenal striker arrested for smuggling 60 kgs of cannabis

Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, 33, the former forward for Arsenal, has been accused of drug trafficking after officials found cannabis at Stansted Airport worth £600,000. The striker for Greenock Morton, who joined the team on a free transfer earlier this summer, was taken into custody at 8 a.m. on Wednesday after agents from the UK Border Force found cocaine in multiple suitcases that had entered the country on his journey from Bangkok on September 2.

Two suitcases contained almost 60 kilograms of the narcotic, according to data from the National Crime Agency (NCA). Following his detention, NCA agents accused the football player, whom Arsene Wenger had previously called 'excellent quality', of importing class B substances.

After being detained, the 33-year-old is scheduled to appear in Carlisle Magistrates Court on Thursday to answer to the charges. According to the NCA, two more women, ages 28 and 32, were detained at Stansted Airport and are accused of importing drugs. Following their appearances at Chelmsford Magistrates Court, both women were granted bail. They are expected to appear in Chelmsford Crown Court on October 1.

After graduating from Arsenal's development academy around the age of eight, Emmanuel-Thomas found it difficult to establish himself with the first squad. During a 2-0 defeat to Chelsea in 2010, he got his debut in the Premier League for Arsenal. He later signed a £1.1 million contract with Ipswich Town in 2011.

“The NCA continues to work with partners” : NCA Senior Operating Officer

David Phillips, the senior operating officer of the NCA spoke about this case and the current rise of drug smuggling. His job is to ensure that anyone involved in this risky business is arrested and put behind the bars. 

He 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 organizers. 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.”