Footballer Jay Emmanuel-Thomas in court after £600,000 of cannabis seized at UK airport
Jay Emmanuel-Thomas is facing allegations of bringing in Class B drugs.
Professional soccer player Jay Emmanuel-Thomas attended a court hearing following allegations that he was involved in planning an attempt to smuggle drugs.
The 33-year-old forward, who plays for Greenock Morton, was detained at his residence in Gourock, close to Glasgow, on Wednesday and was transported to Carlisle for interrogation.
The father of two refrained from pleading at Carlisle Magistrates Court regarding the charge. However, his attorney stated that he firmly denied any participation in a scheme to bring drugs into the UK and expressed his intention to prove his innocence during the trial.
This follows the discovery made by National Crime Agency (NCA) officers, who found 60 kilograms of cannabis worth around £600,000 hidden in suitcases that arrived at Stansted Airport from Bangkok.
Prosecutor Diane Jackson informed the court that two women, aged 28 and 32, were taken into custody after the finding.
She mentioned that they were flying business class to the UK from Bangkok, with a stop in Dubai.
The court was informed that one of the women is in a relationship with Emmanuel-Thomas.
Reports indicate that authorities confiscated four suitcases. Two of these suitcases contained around 29kg of cannabis, while the other two held an additional 31kg.
Following their interrogation by the NCA, both women faced charges related to drug smuggling.
They showed up at Chelmsford Magistrates Court and were released on bail to return to Chelmsford Crown Court on October 1.
Emmanuel-Thomas was taken into custody just after 8:00 AM on Wednesday in Gourock during a joint operation conducted by officers from the NCA and Police Scotland.
NCA officers discovered two suitcases that had come in from Bangkok, and inside they found 60 kilograms of cannabis.
He showed up in court in Carlisle because it was the nearest location to Scotland, where he was taken into custody.
The court was informed that law enforcement officials had gathered evidence from phones.
Ms. Jackson remarked, “This indicates that he did thorough research on flights and routes, as well as which airports the women were arriving at. Reports suggest that this isn’t the first trip he has organized.”
Nathaniel Gadsby, speaking on behalf of Emmanuel-Thomas, stated: “He firmly insists that he had no part in any scheme to bring drugs into the UK. He is determined to prove his innocence during the trial.”
He stated, "Mr. Emmanuel-Thomas is a 33-year-old individual with a commendable character and no criminal record."
He has spent his entire adult life as a professional soccer player, showcasing his skills with several leading teams throughout the UK.
In order to manage the case, the district judge indicated that he would consider Emmanuel-Thomas' lack of a plea as a plea of not guilty.
According to a legal expert, the accusation is of a nature that it can be handled either in a magistrates' court or a crown court.
However, Deputy District Judge Steven Jonas determined that the accusation was too serious to be handled in a magistrates' court.
Emmanuel-Thomas was taken into custody after his request for bail was denied.
Jay Emmanuel-Thomas is a former international player for England at the under-17 and under-19 levels. Throughout his career, he has been with several clubs, including Livingston, Aberdeen, Ipswich Town, Bristol City, Queens Park Rangers, Arsenal, Cardiff City, and the Thai club PTT Rayong.
In July, the forward agreed to a six-month deal with Greenock Morton, a team in the Scottish Championship.
In August, the National Crime Agency alerted travelers coming to the UK from Thailand, Canada, and the United States that they could face prison time if they were caught trying to smuggle cannabis into the country, following an increase in arrests related to this issue.
The agency reported that the quantity of cannabis confiscated in 2024 has already exceeded three times the total amount taken in all of 2023.
In the UK, bringing cannabis into the country can lead to a prison sentence of up to 14 years.
David Phillips, a senior investigator at the NCA, stated, "We are still collaborating with partners such as Border Force to focus on individuals involved in drug trafficking, including both the individuals transporting the drugs and those coordinating the operations."
"We encourage anyone who is asked to get involved in smuggling to consider the serious repercussions of their choices and the significant dangers they may be facing."
