Footballer Jay Emmanuel-Thomas denies orchestrating £600,000 drug smuggling plan at Stansted Airport

Professional footballer Jay Emmanuel-Thomas has “strenuously denied” being behind a £600,000 drug smuggling scheme after 60kg of cannabis was seized at Stansted Airport.

The former Aberdeen striker, who currently plays for Greenock Morton in the Scottish Championship, was detained and questioned by National Crime Agency officers on Wednesday.

The 33-year-old was arrested in Gourock, Inverclyde, just after 8am in an operation supported by officers from Police Scotland.

He was taken across the border to Carlisle to be questioned and later charged.

Border Force officers detected around 60 kilos of the drug in two suitcases which had arrived on a flight from Bangkok. NCA

On Thursday, Emmanuel-Thomas appeared at Carlisle Magistrates’ Court.

The father-of-two faced one charge of the fraudulent evasion on the importation of a class B drug on September 2 in the London area.

During the 15-minute court hearing, Emmanuel-Thomas spoke clearly to confirm his name, date of birth and address.

The ex-Arsenal player’s lawyer Nathaniel Gadsby said Emmanuel-Thomas “does strenuously deny any involvement in any plan to import drugs into the UK”.

“He is eager to clear his name at trial,” Mr Gadsby.

“Mr Emmanuel-Thomas is a 33-year-old man, good character, no convictions. He has been a professional football player for all his adult life and played at a number of top teams across the UK.

“There is no indication of plea,” Mr Gadsby confirmed.

“There is scant information (on the court file); just four witness statements. It is pretty much impossible to tell what is even charged, I’m afraid.”

Prosecutor Diane Jackson told the court how two women – one of whom, she said, is the partner of Emmanuel-Thomas – had been arrested after travelling into the UK, business class, from Bangkok via Dubai.

A total of four suitcases were said to have been seized. Some 29kg of cannabis were spread across two of these, with 31kg contained in the remaining two. The estimated total potential street value of the drug was £600,000.

Border Force officers detected around 60kg of cannabis in two suitcases which had arrived on a flight from Bangkok. NCA

Two women, aged 28 and 32, were arrested and after being questioned by the NCA, both were charged with drug importation offences. They were bailed during an initial magistrates’ court hearing to appear at Chelmsford Crown Court on October 1.

Phone evidence was said to have been collected by law enforcement officers allegedly showing that Emmanuel-Thomas “carried out extensive research into flights and directions; which airports the females had been coming into”.

The prosecutor added: “It is said this is not the first trip he has arranged.”

Emmanuel-Thomas has bail rejected

For the purposes of administration, the deputy district judge Steven Jonas said he was treating Emmanuel-Thomas’ no plea as a not guilty plea.

A legal advisor said the charge was such that it could be dealt with at a magistrates’ or crown court.

Judge Jonas ruled the allegation was too serious to be dealt with in a magistrates’ court.

Emmanuel-Thomas was remanded in custody after an application for bail was rejected.

His case was sent for a plea and trial preparation hearing, initially to Carlisle Crown Court, on October 18.

The striker, from London, who is known by supporters as JET, was in Arsenal’s youth setup and also played for Queens Park Rangers, Bristol City, and Livingston.