Ex-Arsenal player jailed for drug smuggling plot
Europe
By
AFP
| Jun 05, 2025
Former Arsenal player Jay Emmanuel-Thomas was jailed for four years on Thursday for his involvement in a £600,000 ($812,000) drug smuggling plot.
The 34-year-old was arrested in September last year after officers seized roughly 60 kilograms of cannabis brought through London's Stansted Airport by two women he had recruited - his girlfriend and her friend - on a flight from the Thai capital Bangkok via Dubai.
An earlier hearing heard the women, who were found not guilty, believed they were importing gold.
Emmanuel-Thomas, who pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to a smuggling charge, was sacked by Scottish Championship side Greenock Morton after his arrest.
His lawyer conceded the father-of-two had made a "catastrophic error of judgment" after falling on financial hard times.
READ MORE
Government, private sector to introduce BT cotton in Lamu
Musk's Grok barred from undressing images after global backlash
Epra announces new fuel prices in latest review
Built to last: How to design cities that serve generations the Abu Dhabi way
From looting to grounded fleet and leasing; inside KQ's turbulence
ICPAK questions Sh34 Safaricom share price in State divestiture plan
East or West? Kenya insists China trade deal on track amid US tensions
Construction costs rise 20pc on skyrocketing cement prices
Oil marketers join forces to drive up autogas adoption
New KMA directive on seafarer training gets industry backing
A highly promising graduate of Arsenal's academy, Emmanuel-Thomas made five appearances for the Gunners before leaving the north London club in 2011.
The English player went on to feature for Ipswich, Bristol City, QPR and Aberdeen among a host of other clubs, including Thai side PTT Rayong.
Judge Alexander Mills said in imposing a four-year sentence: "It's through your own action that you will no longer be known for playing professional football.
"You will be known as a criminal. A professional footballer who threw it all away."