Professional British soccer player Jay Emmanuel-Thomas has been dismissed from Greenock Morton FC following his arrest in connection with an alleged £600,000 cannabis smuggling operation. The 33-year-old striker was taken into custody at his home in Gourock, near Glasgow, and later appeared at Carlisle Magistrates Court, where he was charged with orchestrating an attempt to import 60kg of cannabis into the UK.
The drugs were discovered by National Crime Agency (NCA) officers at Stansted Airport, concealed in suitcases arriving from Bangkok via Dubai. Emmanuel-Thomas, who has played for several clubs including Livingston, Ipswich Town, Aberdeen, and Arsenal, did not enter a plea at his court appearance, though his lawyer emphasized that he “strenuously” denied any involvement in the alleged drug trafficking operation.
The case came to light after two women, aged 28 and 32, were arrested in connection with the seizure. The women, one of whom is reported to be Emmanuel-Thomas’ partner, had been traveling business class and were found in possession of the cannabis. After their arrest, the women were charged with drug importation offenses and are due to appear at Chelmsford Crown Court on October 1.
At the hearing, prosecutor Diane Jackson revealed that phone evidence suggested Emmanuel-Thomas had researched flights and provided directions for the women’s journey, indicating that this was not the first trip he had arranged. The footballer was arrested shortly after 8:00 AM on Wednesday, and the case is being investigated by both the NCA and Police Scotland.
Despite his lawyer’s argument that Emmanuel-Thomas, who has no prior convictions, was eager to clear his name, his bail application was denied, and he was remanded in custody. The judge ruled that the charge was too serious to be handled by a magistrates’ court, and the case will proceed to a crown court.
Following his arrest, Greenock Morton FC terminated Emmanuel-Thomas’ contract “with immediate effect,” stating that his dismissal was directly linked to the allegations.
The NCA has been intensifying its efforts to crack down on drug smuggling, particularly cannabis importation from countries like Thailand, Canada, and the United States, where arrests have surged in 2024. The agency warned that individuals caught smuggling cannabis face severe consequences, including up to 14 years in prison.
NCA senior investigating officer David Phillips said, “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.”
This high-profile case has cast a shadow over Emmanuel-Thomas’ career, and he now faces a lengthy legal battle to clear his name.
