Former Arsenal player Jay Emmanuel-Thomas has been arrested in the UK on suspicion of involvement in an attempted import of cannabis valued at up to £600,000.
Sky Sports News reports that Jay Emmanuel-Thomas was detained by National Crime Agency (NCA) officers in Gourock, Inverclyde, on Wednesday morning. The report confirmed that the forward player has since been charged after being interviewed by police in Scotland, while the cannabis in question were seized at Stansted Airport in London.
Jay Emmanuel-Thomas came up through the Gunners’ academy but never broke into the team's first team, having played just five games for them. He later pursued his career by moving to the lower leagues where he could get more game time for himself.
The NCA senior investigating officer, David Phillips, also confirmed the seizing of the cannabis from the player.
He 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.”
