Former Arsenal striker is involved in Thai marijuana smuggling case, girlfriend becomes a "drug mule"

Former Arsenal player Jay Emmanuel Thomas recently admitted that he had participated in a drug case worth £600,000 from Thailand to the UK. He was instructed to act as a "drug porter" without knowing it. The National Crime Investigation Agency (NCA) seized four suitcases stuffed with 60 kilograms of marijuana at London's Stansted Airport. It was found after flying to the UK from Bangkok.

Emmanuel Thomas, 34, was a former England youth international. He was fired by Scottish team Greenock Morton after the incident. He pleaded guilty in May, awaiting a verdict from the Chelmsford Crown Court. The media's ban on reporting the case was officially lifted on May 21.

Investigators found that Emanuel Thomas was a middleman between Thailand and the British criminal group. He deceived his 33-year-old girlfriend, Yasmin Piotrowska and her 28-year-old friend, Rosie Rowland, to make them think the trip was "gold for shipment" and promised to provide a full reimbursement of Thailand holiday and a £2,500 reward.

But when the two arrived in London in September 2024, British border law enforcement officers were already waiting at the airport and found a lot of marijuana in their luggage. The

The development of the case then turned around, and the police dropped the charges against Piotrosca and Roland after checking Emmanuel Thomas's cell phone. They were so excited when they heard the verdict in court.

Emmanuel Thomas whispered on his way to the detention center: "I just feel sorry for these two girls." The British BBC reported that the two women always believed that they were transporting gold, not drugs. David Philips, a senior investigator of the National Crime Investigation Agency, pointed out: "Organized criminals like Emanuel Thomas are very persuasive and will use money to seduce people as 'messengers' for drug delivery. But the risk of being caught is extremely high and it is not worth taking risks at all."

Jay Emanuel Thomas played for Arsenal first team with stars such as Fabregas and Van Persie, and has played for Ipswich, Bristol City, Queen's Park Rangers, MK Towns, and even joined Thailand's PTT Rayong.

Now, this striker who once played in the Premier League no longer plays in the green field, but is facing a maximum of 14 years of prison.