(Reuters) – Former Arsenal and Ipswich Town forward Jay Emmanuel-Thomas has been charged after he was arrested by Scotland’s National Crime Agency (NCA) in connection with the seizure 60 kg of cannabis worth 600,000 pounds ($793,620) at Stansted Airport.
The 33-year-old, who now plays for Scottish second division side Greenock Morton, was detained by NCA officers on Wednesday in an operation supported by Police Scotland.
“A man arrested by the National Crime Agency in Scotland yesterday in connection with the seizure of around 60 kilos of cannabis at Stansted Airport earlier this month has been charged,” the NCA said in a statement on Thursday.
“Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, 33, of Cardwell Road, Gourock, was detained and questioned by NCA officers after drugs worth an estimated 600,000 pounds were detected in suitcases by Border Force officers on 2 September.”
Emmanuel-Thomas has been accused of importing class B drugs and has been remanded in custody. He is expected to appear before Carlisle Magistrates later on Thursday.
The English forward came through Arsenal’s academy but made only five appearances for the club. He has also had stints with Bristol City and Queens Park Rangers.
Earlier this month, two women aged 28 and 32 were arrested at Stansted after Border Force officers detected around 60 kg of the drug in two suitcases which had arrived on a flight from Bangkok.
($1 = 0.7560 pounds)
(Reporting by Michael Holden and Rohith Nair; Editing by Toby Davis)
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