Former Arsenal starlet charged after £600,000 of cannabis seized at airport

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Former Arsenal academy talent Jay Emmanuel-Thomas has been charged in connection with the seizure of around £600,000 worth of cannabis at Stanstead airport.

Emmanuel-Thomas was was detained and questioned by National Crime Agency officers after the drugs were found in suitcases by Border Forces after a flight from Bangkok landed on September 2.

The 33-year-old was arrested on Wednesday and remanded in custody before his appearance at Carlisle Magistrates on Thursday, accused of importing class B drugs.

Two women aged 28 and 32 were also arrested in connection with the drugs seizure.

Both were charged with drug importation offences and have been bailed to appear at Chelmsford Crown Court on October 1 after appearing before Chelmsford Magistrates.

Emmanuel-Thomas came through the academy at Arsenal and was once labelled as an ‘outstanding’ talent by then manager Arsene Wenger.

‘One thing is for sure – he can score goals. That is a massive talent you cannot give to people, his right foot, left foot, he is unbelievable in front of goal,’ the Frenchman said in 2012.

‘This guy is an unbelievable finisher, inside and outside of the box. He has outstanding qualities, he has the build you dream to have. It is down to how far he wants to go because he has big potential.’

The attacking player went on to make just one Premier League appearance for the Gunners as a substitute in a 2-0 loss to Chelsea.

In 2011, he signed for Championship club Ipswich Town before going on to enjoy stints at Bristol City and Queens Park Rangers and Livingston in Scotland.

Most recently he was playing for Scottish second-tier side Greenock Morton having signed for the club in July after leaving Kidderminster Harriers.

‘Hopefully I can do the job that's asked of me and help create and score a few goals a long the way. It's going to be a good league and I can’t wait to be a part of it,’ he recently said in an interview with the Grenock Telegraph.

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