GREENOCK Morton has terminated Jay Emmanuel-Thomas's contract the same day he appeared in court accused of drug importation after £600,000 worth of cannabis was found in suitcases at a UK airport.

The one-time Arsenal man was arrested at a Gourock address shortly after 8am on Wednesday morning as part of a combined response between Police Scotland and the National Crime Agency. He was then transported to Carlisle for questioning.

A statement issued by Morton on Thursday evening said: “Greenock Morton FC can confirm that the contract of Jay Emmanuel-Thomas has been terminated with immediate effect. 

“The club will be making no further comment on the matter.”

Emmanuel-Thomas appeared in front of deputy district judge Steven Jonas at the city’s magistrates’ court early on Thursday 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.

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.

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.

(Image: George Munro) 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 towering forward made six appearances for Dougie Imrie’s men, following his arrival from National League side Kidderminster Harriers, failing to find the back of the net.