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Jay Emmanuel-Thomas: Former Arsenal, Ipswich and Aberdeen denies drug importation charge after £600,000 drugs seizure

Suitcases with around 60kg of cannabis were seized at Stansted Airport in September; Jay Emmanuel-Thomas - who started his career at Arsenal before playing for Ipswich, Bristol City, QPR, Livingston and Aberdeen - has denied a charge of importing class B drugs

Friday 25 October 2024 12:48, UK

Image: Jay Emmanuel-Thomas was charged after £600,000 worth of cannabis was seized at Stansted Airport

Footballer Jay Emmanuel-Thomas has denied a charge of importing class B drugs as he appeared in court accused over an attempt to smuggle £600,000 of cannabis through Stansted Airport.

The 33-year-old striker was sacked by Scottish Championship side Greenock Morton after his arrest in September.

The former Livingston, Aberdeen and Arsenal academy player appeared before Chelmsford Crown Court by video-link from HMP Durham on Friday and pleaded not guilty to importing class B drugs.

He is accused, together with co-defendants Rosie Rowland and Yasmin Piotrowska, of the alleged offence between July 1 and September 2 of this year.

Two suitcases were intercepted with 60kg of cannabis at Stansted Airport (Credit: NCA)
Image: Two suitcases were intercepted with 60kg of cannabis at Stansted Airport (Credit: NCA)

Rowland, 28, of Southend Road, Chelmsford, and 33-year-old Piotrowska of Purves Road, north-west London, both also pleaded not guilty to the charge as they appeared in the dock of the court.

Emmanuel-Thomas, of Cardwell Road in Gourock, Inverclyde, was arrested in the town by National Crime Agency (NCA) officers last month and was questioned before he was remanded into custody.

The footballer, who wore a grey prison-issue tracksuit and was seated for the court hearing, has also played for Ipswich Town, Bristol City, Queens Park Rangers and Thai side PTT Rayong.

His arrest came after the NCA seized an estimated £600,000 of the class B drug as it was being smuggled through Stansted on September 2.

Jay Emmanuel-Thomas
Image: The 33-year-old played for Aberdeen and Livingston in recent seasons

Border Force officers detected roughly 60kg of the drug in two suitcases, which had arrived via a flight from Bangkok, Thailand.

A trial, estimated to last five to seven days, is due to take place on a date to be fixed, with a further case management hearing scheduled for January 6.

Judge Christopher Morgan remanded Emmanuel-Thomas in custody and bailed Rowland and Piotrowska until then.

He said the trial could provisionally take place in May.