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Jay Emmanuel-Thomas admits plot to smuggle £600k cannabis Jay Emmanuel-Thomas admits plot to smuggle £600k cannabis
(about 2 hours later)
Jay Emmanuel-Thomas appeared via a video link from prisonJay Emmanuel-Thomas appeared via a video link from prison
A professional footballer has admitted his involvement in a plot to smuggle drugs with a street value of £600,000 from Thailand into the UK.A professional footballer has admitted his involvement in a plot to smuggle drugs with a street value of £600,000 from Thailand into the UK.
Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, 34, was arrested after 60kg (9.44st) of cannabis was found in suitcases arriving at London Stansted Airport, Essex, on 2 September.Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, 34, was arrested after 60kg (9.44st) of cannabis was found in suitcases arriving at London Stansted Airport, Essex, on 2 September.
He was sacked by Scottish club Greenock Morton after being charged, having previously played for Arsenal, Aberdeen, Ipswich Town and England at youth level.He was sacked by Scottish club Greenock Morton after being charged, having previously played for Arsenal, Aberdeen, Ipswich Town and England at youth level.
The father-of-two will be sentenced at Chelmsford Crown Court at a later date.The father-of-two will be sentenced at Chelmsford Crown Court at a later date.
The drugs arrived in suitcases from Bangkok via Dubai
Emmanuel-Thomas, of Cardwell Road, Gourock, near Glasgow, pleaded guilty to the offence in May. Reporting restrictions on the case were lifted on Wednesday.Emmanuel-Thomas, of Cardwell Road, Gourock, near Glasgow, pleaded guilty to the offence in May. Reporting restrictions on the case were lifted on Wednesday.
Prosecutor David Josse KC said it followed a "very thorough investigation" by the National Crime Agency (NCA).Prosecutor David Josse KC said it followed a "very thorough investigation" by the National Crime Agency (NCA).
Charges against Rosie Rowland, 28, of Southend Road, Chelmsford, and 33-year-old Yasmin Piotrowska, of Purves Road, north-west London, had been dropped by the prosecution, he told the court. The drugs arrived in suitcases from Bangkok via Dubai
Emmanuel-Thomas recruited his 33-year-old girlfriend, Yasmin Piotrowska, and her friend, Rosie Rowland, 28, to collect the cannabis in Thailand and smuggle it into the UK.
They were given an all expenses paid trip to the country and promised a payment of £2,500, the NCA said.
Meanwhile, the footballer acted as an intermediary between criminals in both Thailand and the UK.
The women were stopped by Border Force officials at Stansted Airport after flying in from Bangkok, and found to have four suitcases containing cannabis.
However, charges against Ms Rowland, of Southend Road, Chelmsford, and Ms Piotrowska, of Purves Road, north-west London, were dropped earlier.
They wept as they were allowed to leave the dock, having denied importing cannabis between 1 July and 2 September at earlier hearings.They wept as they were allowed to leave the dock, having denied importing cannabis between 1 July and 2 September at earlier hearings.
Emmanuel-Thomas told NCA officers he felt "sorry for the girls"
Mr Josse said the investigation into their involvement was discontinued after analysis of Emmanuel-Thomas's mobile phone.Mr Josse said the investigation into their involvement was discontinued after analysis of Emmanuel-Thomas's mobile phone.
"They thought they were importing gold, not cannabis," the prosecutor said."They thought they were importing gold, not cannabis," the prosecutor said.
Emmanuel-Thomas made one first team appearance for Arsenal, also going on to play for Bristol City, Queens Park Rangers, MK Dons, and Thai-based team PTT Rayong in 2019. On his way to custody in September, Emmanuel-Thomas said "I just feel sorry for the girls", the NCA added.
Emmanuel-Thomas made five first team appearances for Arsenal, also going on to play for Bristol City, Queens Park Rangers, MK Dons, and Thai-based team PTT Rayong in 2019.
He was sacked by Scottish side Greenock Morton FC after being arrested at his home in on 18 September.He was sacked by Scottish side Greenock Morton FC after being arrested at his home in on 18 September.
The NCA previously said the drugs arrived in suitcases from Bangkok via Dubai. David Philips, a senior NCA investigator, said: "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."
The maximum sentence for smuggling cannabis into the UK is 14 years in jail.The maximum sentence for smuggling cannabis into the UK is 14 years in jail.