Ex-Arsenal starlet jailed over ‘significant role' in plot to smuggle £600k of cannabis into UK from Thailand
Drugs were discovered in two suitcases
DRUG BUST Ex-Arsenal starlet jailed over 'significant role' in plot to smuggle £600k of cannabis into UK from Thailand
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A FORMER Arsenal starlet has been jailed over a plot to smuggle £600,000 worth of drugs in the UK.
Jay Emmanuel-Thomas was arrested after border officials seized two suitcases containing cannabis at Stansted Airport.
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Ex-Arsenal star Jay Emmanuel-Thomas has been jailed
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He was involved in a plot to smuggle £600k of cannabis into the UK
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Emmanuel-Thomas pleaded guilty to his role
Credit: PA
The drugs, which weighed around 60kg, had arrived via flight from Bangkok in Thailand.
It is believed he may have been the intermediary between drug pushers in the UK and suppliers in Thailand and was described as having a "significant role".
Emmanuel-Thomas, 34, has now been jailed after he pleaded guilty to fraudulent evasion of the prohibition on the importation of cannabis.
Judge Alexander Mills told him: "It is through your own actions you will no longer be known as a professional footballer.
"
"You will be known as a criminal. A professional footballer who threw it all away."
Chelmsford Crown Court heard the drugs were brought into the UK by Emmanuel-Thomas' girlfriend Yasmin Piotrowska.
She had flown business class to Stanstead Airport with Rosie Rowland to carry put the plot on September 2.
Emmanuel-Thomas was linked to the discovery by numerous WhatsApp messages, voice notes and pictures.
The court was told it was "apparent" he had recruited the women, who were cleared after prosecutors offered no evidence in their case.
He used his influenced as a professional footballer to sway the two women - offering them £2,500 plus a free holiday to Thailand.
After Piotrowska was stopped by border officials, Emmanuel-Thomas messaged Rowland to tell her to "delete everything from our chat if you can".
The footballer then travelled to Stratford, East London, on September 5 and replaced his mobile.
He was sacked by Scottish club Greenock Morton following his arrest last year.
Emmanuel-Thomas is a former England under-17 and under-19 international.
He began his career at Arsenal before playing for various clubs - including Ipswich Town, Bristol City, QPR, Livingston and Aberdeen.
The striker signed a six-month contract with Greenock Morton in July.
David Philips, NCA senior investigating officer, said: "Organised crime groups make significant profits by trafficking and selling perceived high-quality cannabis legally grown in the US, Canada and Thailand illegally in the UK.
"Organised criminals like Emmanuel-Thomas can be very persuasive and offer payment to couriers. But the risk of getting caught is very high and it simply isn't worth it."
Emmanuel-Thomas is the latest Brit to be caught smuggling drugs.
The Sun revealed how Cameron Bradford, 21, is being detained in Germany for allegedly hiding cannabis in her bags on a flight from Thailand.
A British OnlyFans model was also caught allegedly smuggling nearly £200,000 worth of Thai cannabis into Spain.
Elsewhere, Brit Bella May Culley, 18, sparked a massive international search operation in early May after she was reported missing while holidaying in Thailand.
However, it was later revealed that the teen, from Billingham, County Durham, had been arrested 4,000 miles away on drug offences in Georgia.
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The footballer was arrested last September
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NCA officers found the drugs in two suitcases
Credit: Unpixs
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