Former Livingston player is charged after cannabis worth £600,000 was found in suitcases at airport

The 33-year-old was at Livingston for around a year

Former Livingston Jay Emmanuel-Thomas has been charged after cannabis worth £600,000 was found in suitcases at Stansted Airport.

The 33-year-old, who was at Livingston for around a year, and who currently plays for Greenock Morton in the Scottish Championship, was arrested by police at the National Crime Agency at an address in Gourock, Inverclyde, on Wednesday.

The Daily Record reports Border Force officers discovered a 60kg class B drugs haul at the airport in London on September 2.

Emmanuel-Thomas has now been charged on suspicion of importing the drugs.

He has been remanded in custody in Carlisle and is expected to appear before Carlisle Magistrates on Thursday, accused of importing class B drugs.

A statement from the NCA reads: “A man arrested by the National Crime Agency in Scotland yesterday in connection with the seizure of around 60 kilos of cannabis at Stansted Airport earlier this month has been charged. Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, 33, of Cardwell Road, Gourock, was detained and questioned by NCA officers after drugs worth an estimated £600,000 were detected in suitcases by Border Force officers on 2 September.

“He has been remanded in custody and is expected to appear before Carlisle Magistrates later today (Thursday 19 September), accused of importing class B drugs.”

NCA Senior Investigating Officer David Phillips said: “The NCA continues to work with partners like Border Force to target those involved in drug smuggling – that includes both the couriers and the organisers.

“We would appeal to anyone who is approached to engage in any kind of smuggling to think very carefully about the likely consequences of their actions, and the potentially life-changing risks they will be taking.”

Greenock Morton FC confirmed it was aware of Emmanuel-Thomas’s charges. The club declined to comment.

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