Former Arsenal star Jay Emmanuel-Thomas has been arrested and charged in connection with the seizure of around £600,000 worth of cannabis at Stansted Airport.
The 33-year-old is set to appear before Carlisle Magistrates on Thursday after allegedly importing class B drugs.
Around 60 kilos of cannabis was found in two suitcases that arrived from Bangkok last month.
Two women, aged 28 and 32, were also charged before being bailed.
Former Arsenal star Jay Emmanuel-Thomas has been arrested and charged in connection with the seizure of around £600,000 worth of cannabis at Stansted Airport
NCA
They will appear before Chelmsford Crown Court on October 1.
Emmanuel-Thomas started his career at Arsenal, making five appearances for the club.
He moved to Ipswich Town in 2011 and spent two years with the Tractor Boys, with Bristol City then snapping him up in 2013.
The striker had another two-year stint with them before then proceeding to spend three years with Queens Park Rangers.
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PTT Rayong, Livingston, Aberdeen, Jamshedpur, Kidderminster Harriers and Greenock Morton are among the other clubs he's turned out for throughout his career.
National Crime Agency 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.
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Jay Emmanuel-Thomas started his career at Arsenal
PA
"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."
The NCA said in August that travellers arriving into the UK from Thailand, Canada and US could face jail sentences of up to 14 years if caught attempting to bring cannabis into the country.
Jay Emmanuel-Thomas pictured during his time at Aberdeen
PA
All three countries have decriminalised the drug.
The NCA have said that the amount of cannabis seized so far in 2024 is already three times more than the whole of 2023.
