Professional footballer Jay Emmanuel-Thomas has been terminated from his contract with Greenock Morton following his arrest in connection with an attempt to smuggle £600,000 (€715,000) worth of cannabis through London Stansted Airport.
The 33-year-old striker, known for his time with clubs such as Arsenal, Ipswich Town, and Bristol City, was apprehended by the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) on Wednesday morning in Gourock, Scotland. Emmanuel-Thomas, who lives on Cardwell Road in Gourock, was taken into custody for questioning before being remanded.
Greenock Morton FC can confirm that the contract of Jay Emmanuel-Thomas has been terminated with immediate effect.
— Greenock Morton (@Morton_FC) September 19, 2024
The club will be making no further comment on the matter. pic.twitter.com/qNxM6f6ju9
He appeared in Carlisle Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, where he was charged with importing class B drugs. Greenock Morton confirmed his immediate dismissal in a brief statement shared on X, formerly known as Twitter, stating, “Greenock Morton FC can confirm that the contract of Jay Emmanuel-Thomas has been terminated with immediate effect. The club will be making no further comment on the matter.”
Emmanuel-Thomas has had a diverse career, also playing for Queens Park Rangers and Thai side PTT Rayong. His arrest came after the NCA seized an estimated £600,000 worth of cannabis that was smuggled through Stansted Airport on September 2. Border Force officers discovered about 60kg of the drug hidden in two suitcases from a flight originating in Bangkok, Thailand.
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
During his court appearance, Emmanuel-Thomas entered no plea and was remanded in custody, with a subsequent court date set for Carlisle Crown Court on October 18. Two women, aged 28 and 32, were also arrested in connection with the incident and appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court, where they were granted bail to attend Chelmsford Crown Court on October 1.
NCA senior investigating officer David Phillips stated, “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.” He urged individuals approached to participate in smuggling to consider the serious consequences and risks involved.
This incident follows a warning from the NCA to travelers arriving in the UK from countries such as Thailand, Canada, and the United States about the severe penalties for attempting to bring cannabis into the country. The NCA reported a significant increase in cannabis seizures this year, which is already three times higher than in 2023.
The agency also noted that drug couriers often receive misleading information from their superiors, who claim the risks are minimal, while the maximum sentence for smuggling cannabis into the UK can reach up to 14 years in prison.
