Professional footballer Jay Emmanuel-Thomas has been dismissed from Greenock Morton FC following accusations of attempting to smuggle £600,000 worth of cannabis into the UK.
The Scottish Championship club announced his immediate release on Thursday night.
In a statement, the club said: “Greenock Morton FC confirms that Jay Emmanuel-Thomas’s contract has been terminated with immediate effect. The club will not be commenting further on the issue.”
This follows the arrest of the former Aberdeen striker, who was on a six-month contract, by the National Crime Agency at an address in Gourock, Inverclyde, on Wednesday. His arrest came after two women, including his partner, were detained at Stansted Airport on September 2.
Border Force officers questioned the women and seized four suitcases containing 60kg of cannabis. Emmanuel-Thomas, 33, of Gourock, appeared at Carlisle Magistrates Court on Thursday, charged with fraudulent evasion of the importation of a class B drug.
Jay Emmanuel-Thomas did not enter a plea and was remanded in custody after his bail request was denied. During the 15-minute hearing, he clearly confirmed his name, date of birth, and address.
His lawyer, Nathaniel Gadsby, stated that Emmanuel-Thomas “strongly denies any involvement in any plan to import drugs into the UK.”
Two women, aged 28 and 32, were also arrested and, following questioning by the National Crime Agency, were charged with drug importation offenses. They have been released on bail following an initial hearing at a magistrates’ court and are due to appear at Chelmsford Crown Court on October 1. Emmanuel-Thomas’s case has been scheduled for a plea and trial preparation hearing at Carlisle Crown Court on October 18.
GET MORE NEWS ON LIFESTYLEROOM.NET
Leave a Reply