Former Ajax star Quincy Promes has been sentenced to six years in prison for his role in smuggling more than 1,350 kilos of cocaine.
Promes was charged last May for his alleged involvement in smuggling cocaine, which was intercepted in Antwerp in January 2020 in the form of two batches of 650 kg and 713 kg each.
Now, the Public Ministry has officially found Promes and a 32-year-old co-suspect guilty of importing, exporting, transporting and possessing the drug.
It is assumed that the cocaine was hidden in a shipment of sea salt from Brazil, from where the drug was transported in two containers to Antwerp.
According USThe former Ajax winger did not appear at the trial and, therefore, never made statements about the crimes he is accused of.
A Dutch court has sentenced former Ajax player Quincy Promes to six years in prison for his involvement in the smuggling of more than 1,350 kilos of cocaine.
Dutch prosecutors had initially requested a nine-year sentence for the Spartak Moscow star.
Other reports suggested the former Netherlands international feels “untouchable” as he avoided attending court hearings.
According Holland TimesProsecutors said: “He seems to think he is untouchable in Russia or abroad.”
It was also reported that prosecutors wanted to know “how such a successful footballer allowed himself to be drawn so deeply into crime.”
Dutch officials had initially requested a nine-year prison sentence for the Spartak Moscow striker when the case was filed last month.
In demanding the nine-year sentence, prosecutors argued that Promes “normalizes and almost romanticizes cocaine trafficking.”
Prosecutors claim Promes’ wealth meant he had money to invest and, as a result, was one rung higher on the organizational ladder.
“The case came to light after the police criminal intelligence team received information that a 32-year-old man now living in Russia was involved in cocaine trafficking,” the Dutch Public Prosecutor’s Office said.
‘He is also said to own crypto phones and has invested 200,000 euros in the trade.
Other reports suggested the former Netherlands international feels “untouchable”.
‘This information motivated the beginning of an investigation. Listening equipment was placed on the suspect’s car and the suspect was observed.
‘The accuracy of TCI’s information was confirmed, in part, by phones seized from other people in which conversations were found in which the suspects also participated.
“Many chat messages made it clear that both suspects were involved in the entry, removal, transportation and sale of these two shipments.”
In June, Promes was sentenced to 18 months in prison for stabbing his cousin.
The 31-year-old forward, who plays for the Russian club Spartak Moscow, was arrested in December 2020 for the incident that occurred in July of that year.
The court in the Netherlands found the assault charges against Promes proven, but concluded that there was no attempted murder or manslaughter, according to ESPN.
The stabbing, in the leg, occurred at a family party at a warehouse in Abcoude after Promes argued over a stolen necklace.
At the time he was playing in the Netherlands for Ajax, but moved to Spartak in February 2021.
Quincy Promes, seen playing for Ajax in 2020, was also sentenced to 18 months in prison for stabbing his cousin in June.
Similar to his recent charges, the judge criticized Promes for not coming to court to defend himself or express any remorse.
Had he done so, his sentence would have been six months less. He was ordered to pay €7,000 (£5,973) in compensation to the victim.
The Amsterdam-born striker played 50 times for the Dutch national team and scored seven goals.
He began his career at Twente and spent four years at Spartak between 2014 and 2018 before joining Spanish side Sevilla.
From there, he spent a season and a half with Ajax before returning to Spartak.