MORTON player Jay Emmanuel-Thomas has appeared in court accused of drug importation after £600,000 worth of cannabis was found stashed in suitcases at a UK airport.
The 33-year-old was transported to Carlisle to be questioned after being arrested in Gourock on Wednesday.
He appeared in front of deputy district judge Steven Jonas at the city’s magistrates’ court early this afternoon.
Dad-of-two Emmanuel-Thomas, of Cardwell Road, faces one charge. This alleges drug importation and specifically that he was concerned in the fraudulent evasion of a prohibition on the importation of a class B drug — cannabis.
Court papers show the offence is alleged to have been committed on September 2 in the London area.
During a 15-minute court hearing, Emmanuel-Thomas — who captained Arsenal to Youth Cup final success in 2009 — spoke clearly to confirm his name, date of birth and address.
READ MORE: Jay Emmanuel-Thomas charged in connection with drugs seizure
He appeared in the dock wearing a mustard-coloured ESSENTIALS designer long-sleeved top, sporting tied-back dreadlocked hair and a beard.
No plea was entered to the charge when it was read to him by the court legal advisor on the instruction of his lawyer, Nathaniel Gadsby.
“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.”
Mr Gadsby said of Emmanuel-Thomas: “He does strenuously deny any involvement in any plan to import drugs into the UK. He is eager to clear his name at trial.”
The solicitor also said: “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.”
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.
Phone evidence was said to have been collected by law enforcement officers.
Mrs Jackson alleged of Emmanuel-Thomas: “It shows that he carried out extensive research into flights and directions; which airports the females had been coming into.
"It is said this is not the first trip he has arranged.”
For the purposes of administration, the district judge 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.
Deputy district 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.
Emmanuel-Thomas’ appearance in court follows the arrest of two women, aged 28 and 32, at Stansted on September 2. Border Force are said to have detected around 60 kilos of the drug in a number suitcases which had arrived on a flight from Bangkok.
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.
The Telegraph understands Emmanuel-Thomas - known as JET - was not present at a Greenock Morton training session on Wednesday morning.
A Morton spokesperson said: "The club is aware of an ongoing matter relating to one of our first team players which has been publicised by various media outlets.
"The club is currently awaiting further information from the relevant bodies and due to the nature of the situation, we will be unable to make any comment beyond this statement at this time."
Emmanuel-Thomas has played for a host of professional clubs north and south of the border during the past 15 years. These include Ipswich Town, Bristol City, QPR and Aberdeen.
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