Former Arsenal striker, Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, 33, has been charged with drug smuggling after UK authorities uncovered cannabis worth £600,000 at Stansted Airport.

Emmanuel-Thomas, who currently plays for Greenock Morton after signing with the club earlier this year, was arrested on Wednesday morning at 8am following the discovery by UK Border Force officials.

The drugs, weighing approximately 60 kilograms, were found in two suitcases that had arrived on a flight from Bangkok on September 2.

According to the National Crime Agency (NCA), Emmanuel-Thomas was promptly arrested and charged with importing class B drugs.

The footballer, once praised by Arsène Wenger for his potential, is now in custody and is set to appear at Carlisle Magistrates Court on Thursday to answer the charges.

In addition to Emmanuel-Thomas, two women, aged 28 and 32, were also arrested at Stansted Airport in connection with the incident.

Both women face similar drug importation charges and were granted bail after their initial court appearance at Chelmsford Magistrates Court. They are due to appear at Chelmsford Crown Court on October 1.

Senior Investigating Officer at the NCA, David Phillips, emphasized the agency’s commitment to tackling drug smuggling operations, noting that they work closely with Border Force to target both couriers and those organizing such crimes.

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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 began his football career at Arsenal’s youth academy at just eight years old, made his Premier League debut in 2010 in a 2-0 defeat against Chelsea.

However, after struggling to secure a place in the first team, he left Arsenal in 2011, signing with Ipswich Town for £1.1 million.