Soccer player admits to orchestrating the smuggling of around $800,000 worth of cannabis into the UK

[{"selector":"#anim-e3b72ecb-eb42-4ad6-b712-6082d14d6c1f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cdaee2d3-a787-40fa-87b2-c14f85164afb","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-110%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":600,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3d56548c-3140-482e-acc7-52a8a8a4c523","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Jay Emmanuel-Thomas admitted to smuggling 60kg of cannabis worth $800,000 from Thailand to the UK, according to the National Crime Agency (NCA). Learn More Arrow

[{"selector":"#anim-9155a487-f960-4ea7-a364-59b46939d687","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-31f7826c-a2ba-41cb-9f29-d046ea242bf9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fe464515-95df-4592-9a74-62618aa14968","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-110%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":600,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The ex-Arsenal and Ipswich Town forward recruited two women to bring the drugs from Thailand, believing they were transporting gold. Learn More Arrow

[{"selector":"#anim-c085d60b-0296-4938-a525-ea6591274dbd","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-65c47d1d-f585-4717-ae90-8d9d4d028f46","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-70d51037-edaf-4bc7-bab7-95754488edb3","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-110%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":600,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The women were arrested upon arrival from Bangkok but later acquitted when it was proven they had no knowledge of smuggling cannabis. Learn More Arrow

[{"selector":"#anim-73317e41-dab5-462f-9f7b-951fa1abaa05","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-12e3d7bb-7356-4efb-949e-1029be0a9fa6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f26e54ee-8eb6-4aa3-a8e0-d34b06c714b4","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-110%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":600,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Emmanuel-Thomas was the link between Thai suppliers and UK drug dealers, playing a key role in the smuggling operation, the NCA stated. Learn More Arrow

[{"selector":"#anim-67bf3c02-540c-4842-8e2c-2f0b1c5b292b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9aebb2b8-158c-4e23-8c13-ebee2c32000c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f4791ffc-a72a-475e-b27b-3d178fd7a59e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-110%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":600,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The case was heard at Chelmsford Crown Court, with sentencing adjourned; the maximum penalty for cannabis importation is 14 years in prison. Learn More Arrow

[{"selector":"#anim-410d368e-df8e-42d9-8544-9775537bf703","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d4adee34-a1e8-41a9-b12b-81a49d77cc73","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-421a93eb-b503-4949-968d-04b422619416","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-110%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":600,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] At the time of his arrest in September, Emmanuel-Thomas was playing for Greenock Morton, which terminated his contract after the charges. Learn More Arrow

[{"selector":"#anim-dbb2cf89-7857-4d91-8775-40ec87b8f678","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7af8783d-f2d3-4d48-b7b0-e5799026a66f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d6e937e1-678b-4568-b3bd-26de0c66b3ec","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-110%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":600,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The NCA warns that organized crime groups exploit legal cannabis markets abroad to illegally traffic the drug into the UK for huge profits. Learn More Arrow

[{"selector":"#anim-26be77ca-b3d9-47bd-964b-2e87ced592dc","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f6a7b79e-3ee3-4a15-88a4-da3343b1ef2f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-08393e8d-a4c1-4269-ac7d-8fa9a0435031","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-110%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":600,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Officer David Philips emphasized that criminals like Thomas lure couriers with money, but the legal risks and consequences are extremely high. Learn More Arrow

Soccer player admits to orchestrating the smuggling of around $800,000 worth of cannabis into the UK

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