STAR 'DRUG BUST'
Ex-Arsenal star Jay Emmanuel-Thomas charged with importing drugs after £600,000 worth of cannabis seized at airport
Drugs were discovered in suitcases flown over from Bangkok
AN EX-ARSENAL star has been charged with importing drugs.
Striker Jay Emmanuel-Thomas was arrested on Wednesday morning after £600,000 of cannabis was seized at Stansted Airport.
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Suitcases, used to smuggle the drugs in, were discovered by UK Border Force after a flight arrived from Bangkok, Thailand, on September 2.
The 33-year-old was detained by National Crime Agency (NCA) officers yesterday and has since been charged.
Emmanuel-Thomas appeared at Carlisle Magistrates' Court today.
The charge sheet states he is accused of "being concerned in the fraudulent evasion of a prohibition on the importation of a class B drug — cannabis — on 2nd September, 2024, at London".
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He was remanded into custody to appear at Carlisle Crown Court on October 18.
Two women aged 28 and 32 were also arrested in connection with the drugs bust.
They have both been charged with drug importation offences.
The maximum sentence for smuggling cannabis into the UK is 14 years behind bars.
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NCA senior investigating officer 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 at the age of eight, signing a professional contract with the Gunners in 2008.
He played a major role in the club's youth team - scoring in every round of the 2008-9 FA Youth Cup.
But the striker struggled to make a break-through into the first team and after a series of loan spells signed for Ipswich Town in 2011 for an undisclosed fee.
He went on to play for Greenock Morton in the Scottish Championship, and has also played for Aberdeen, Bristol City, Queens Park Rangers and Thai side PTT Rayong.