Former Arsenal striker Jay Emmanuel-Thomas arrested for alleged £600,000 cannabis smuggling

Former Arsenal forward Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, 33, has been charged with drug importation after authorities seized cannabis valued at £600,000 at Stansted Airport.

The Greenock Morton striker, who signed with the club earlier this summer on a free transfer, was arrested at 8am on Wednesday after UK Border Force officials discovered the drugs in several suitcases that had arrived in the UK on a flight from Bangkok on September 2.

According to the National Crime Agency (NCA), approximately 60 kilograms of the drug were found in two suitcases.

NCA officers then arrested the footballer – whom Arsene Wenger once described as having 'outstanding quality' – and charged him with importing class B drugs.

The 33-year-old has been held in custody and is expected to appear at Carlisle Magistrates Court on Thursday to face the charges. 

Two women, aged 28 and 32, were also arrested at Stansted Airport, according to the NCA, and face similar drug importation charges.

Both women were granted bail after appearing at Chelmsford Magistrates Court and are scheduled to appear at Chelmsford Crown Court on October 1.

Senior Investigating Officer for the NCA, 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 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.”

Emmanuel-Thomas, who joined Arsenal's youth academy at the age of eight, struggled to make an impact with the first team after graduating from the academy.

He made his Premier League debut for Arsenal in a 2-0 loss to Chelsea in 2010, before leaving the club in 2011 to sign with Ipswich Town for £1.1 million.