Ex-Cardiff City and Arsenal star Jay Emmanuel-Thomas admits role in £600k drugs

Former Arsenal and Cardiff City footballer Jay Emmanuel-Thomas has admitted to his involvement in a £600,000 cannabis smuggling plot. The 34-year-old pleaded guilty at Chelmsford Crown Court to charges related to the importation of approximately 60 kilograms of cannabis into the UK. The drugs were transported from Bangkok, Thailand, via Dubai, and arrived at Stansted Airport on September 2, 2024. Emmanuel-Thomas was arrested at his home in Gourock, Inverclyde, on September 18, 2024, following an investigation by the National Crime Agency (NCA) .

Initially, Emmanuel-Thomas denied the charges during an October 2024 court appearance but changed his plea to guilty in May 2025. Two women, Rosie Rowland and Yasmin Piotrowska, were also arrested in connection with the case. However, charges against them were dropped after investigations revealed they believed they were importing gold, not cannabis .

Following his arrest, Emmanuel-Thomas’s contract with Scottish club Greenock Morton was terminated. He had joined the club in July 2024 and played five matches before his arrest . Throughout his career, Emmanuel-Thomas played for several clubs, including Arsenal, Ipswich Town, Bristol City, Queens Park Rangers, and had stints abroad in Thailand and India. He was also a former England under-17 and under-19 international.

Emmanuel-Thomas is currently in custody awaiting sentencing, where he faces a potential prison term of up to 14 years for the importation of a Class B drug .