Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, 34, a former striker for Arsenal and several other British clubs, has pleaded guilty to attempting to smuggle 60 kilograms of cannabis into the United Kingdom, with an estimated street value of around £600,000.
The drugs were discovered on September 2, 2024 at Stansted Airport in Essex, when two women – his partner, Yasmin Piotrowska, 33, and her friend Rosie Rowland, 29 – arrived from Bangkok, Thailand with four suitcases filled with the drugs. Each suitcase contained 15 kilograms of cannabis.
Emmanuel-Thomas admitted to organizing the trafficking and told the court he regretted Piotrowska's involvement in the criminal scheme. He pleaded guilty to the charge of "fraudulently evading a drug import ban" between July 1 and September 2, 2024.
Meanwhile, charges against the two women were dropped after, according to prosecutor David Josse KC, analysis of the phones showed they believed they were bringing gold from Thailand, not drugs. Judge Christopher Morgan ordered the recording of "not guilty" verdicts for both women, who were immediately released, writes A2 CNN.
Emmanuel-Thomas was expelled from Scottish club Greenock Morton after the allegations were made. The former player, who also had spells at Ipswich Town, Bristol City and Aberdeen, is a father of two and will be sentenced at a future hearing.
British law provides for a maximum sentence of up to 14 years in prison for such drug trafficking. (A2 Televizion)
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