Former Arsenal prospect Jay Emmanuel-Thomas has been charged in connection with an attempt to smuggle £600,000 of cannabis into the UK.
The striker, who made five first team appearances for the Gunners, was arrested shortly after 8am on Wednesday morning.
The arrest was conducted by the National Crime Agency [NCA] and took place in Gourock, Inverclyde, while the smuggling occurred at Stansted Airport.
Emmanuel-Thomas, 33, is still active as a footballer, playing for Greenock Morton of the Scottish Championship.
He also appeared for a string of other English sides, including Ipswich, QPR and Blackpool.
The arrest came in conjunction with the NCA seizing £600,000 worth of cannabis at Stansted on September 2.
Emmanuel-Thomas is expected to appear before Carlisle Magistrates Court on Thursday accused of importing class B drugs.
Two women aged 28 and 32 were also arrested and have appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court.
They were given bail in order to appear before Chelmsford Crown Court on October 1.
In a statement, 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.”
Emmanuel-Thomas joined Greenock Morton from National League side Kidderminster Harriers in the summer, and has so far made five appearances without scoring, with his last match on September 14.
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The London-born forward was predicted to have a big career after excelling in Arsenal’s academy, winning the 2008/09 FA Youth Cup.
He debuted in January 2010 under Arsene Wenger, starting an FA Cup match against Stoke City.
Four more substitute showings would follow in the Premier League, Champions League and League Cup, before leaving his boyhood side on loan to Doncaster Rovers and Cardiff City.
He then left the Emirates permanently in 2010 with a move to Ipswich, and then recorded his best career goal haul with 33 in 103 games for Bristol City between 2013 and 2015.