Former Arsenal Player Arrested Over £600K Cannabis Smuggling from Thailand

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The cannabis seized at Stansted Airport. Picture courtesy: NCA via ESSEX Live

 

Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, once a promising talent for Arsenal, finds himself in serious legal trouble after being arrested for attempting to smuggle cannabis worth approximately £600,000 (around $800,000) via a British airport.

 

The 33-year-old footballer, currently playing for Scottish second-tier team Greenock Morton, was apprehended at his residence near Glasgow on Wednesday morning. The National Crime Agency (NCA) reported that Emmanuel-Thomas was then taken to Carlisle in northern England for questioning.

 

Emmanuel-Thomas' career began at Arsenal, where he made five appearances, including a notable appearance in a Champions League match against Shakhtar Donetsk in November 2010. He later played for numerous clubs, including Ipswich, Bristol City, Queens Park Rangers, and Aberdeen, as well as a stint in Thailand with PTT Rayong.

The situation unraveled when customs officers discovered around 60 kilograms (130 pounds) of cannabis hidden in two suitcases at Stansted Airport, arriving on a flight from Bangkok on 2nd September. Two women were initially arrested at the scene.

 

Former Arsenal striker Emmanuel-Thomas. Picture courtesy: instagram officialjet10 via Daily Mail

 

Emmanuel-Thomas now faces charges of importing class B drugs into the United Kingdom. This offence carries a maximum penalty of 14 years imprisonment under UK law.

 

This incident comes shortly after the NCA had issued warnings to travellers about bringing cannabis into the UK from countries like Thailand, Canada, and the US, where cannabis laws are more lenient. The strict UK legislation aims to curb the illegal drug trade and prevent smuggling operations.

 

Sources: Agencies

 

-- 2024-09-20