Former Aberdeen striker Jay Emmanuel-Thomas appeared before Carlisle Magistrates Court on Thursday.
Following the discovery of 60 kg of cannabis at Stansted Airport, professional football player Jay Emmanuel-Thomas “strenuously denied” being involved in a £600,000 narcotics smuggling conspiracy.
The Scottish Championship player for Greenock Morton, formerly of Aberdeen, was arrested and questioned by National Crime Agency officials on Wednesday.
The 33-year-old was taken into custody at Gourock, Inverclyde, just after 8 a.m., after an operation aided by Police Scotland personnel.
He was brought over the border to Carlisle, where he was interrogated and subsequently charged.
Emmanuel-Thomas made an appearance at Carlisle Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.
On September 2, in the London region, the father of two was charged with one count of fraudulent evasion related to the importation of a class B substance.
Emmanuel-Thomas spoke clearly to verify his identity, date of birth, and address during the fifteen-minute court session.
Emmanuel-Thomas “does strenuously deny any involvement in any plan to import drugs into the UK,” according to the former player’s attorney, Nathaniel Gadsby.
Mr. Gadsby said, “He is keen to clear his name at trial.”
“Mr. Emmanuel-Thomas is a 33-year-old man with no convictions and decent morals. He spent his whole adult life playing football professionally, spending time with several of the top teams in the United Kingdom.
According to Mr. Gadsby, “there is no indication of plea.”
“On the court file, there is very little information—just four witness statements. I’m afraid it is nearly impossible to determine what is even charged.
Prosecutor Diane Jackson described to the court how two ladies, one of whom is Emmanuel-Thomas’s partner, were taken into custody after entering the UK in business class from Bangkok via Dubai.
It was reported that four suitcases had been confiscated. About 29 kilogram of estimated total potential street value of the drug was £600,000.
Following their apprehension and interrogation by the NCA, two ladies, ages 28 and 32, were each charged with drug importation offenses. During their initial appearance before magistrates’ court, they were granted bail to appear in Chelmsford Crown Court on October 1.
Law enforcement officials allegedly gathered phone data that demonstrated Emmanuel-Thomas “carried out extensive research into flights and directions; which airports the females had been coming into.”
“It is said that this is not the first trip he has arranged,” the prosecutor continued.
Bail for Emmanuel-Thomas has been denied.
Emmanuel-Thomas entered a not guilty plea, which the deputy district judge Steven Jonas declared to be treated as such for administrative purposes.
A legal counsel stated that a magistrates’ or crown court could handle the charge.
The charge was deemed too serious for a magistrates’ court to handle, according to Judge Jonas.
An application for bail was denied, and Emmanuel-Thomas was placed under jail on remand.
On October 18, his case was transferred, originally to Carlisle Crown Court, for a plea and trial preparation hearing.
The London-born striker, who goes by JET among his fans, played for Queens Park Rangers, Bristol City, and Livingston in addition to being a member of Arsenal’s development system.
Leave a Reply