Former Ajax football star, Quincy Promes has been handed a six-year prison sentence for his involvement in smuggling over 1,350 kilos of cocaine.
Promes was charged last May over his alleged involvement in smuggling the cocaine, which was intercepted in Antwerp in January 2020 in the form of two batches of 650kg and 713kg each.
Now, the Public Prosecution Service has officially found Promes and a 32-year-old co-suspect, guilty of importing, exporting, transporting, and possessing the drugs.
It is alleged the cocaine was hidden in a shipment of sea salt from Brazil, where the drugs were transported in two containers to Antwerp.
According to NOS, the former Ajax winger failed to turn up for the trial and, thus, never made a statement about the offenses charged against him.
Further reports suggested that the former Netherlands international feels ‘he’s untouchable’ – given the fact he avoided attending the court dates.
According to NL Times, prosecutors said: ‘He seems to think he is untouchable in Russia or abroad’.
It’s 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 sought out a nine-year prison sentence for the Spartak Moscow forward, when the case was brought forward last month.
When demanding the nine-year sentence, prosecutors alleged that Promes ‘normalises and almost romanticises the cocaine trade’.
Prosecutors claim Promes’ wealth meant he had money to invest and was one step higher on the organisational ladder as a result.
‘The case came to light after the police Criminal Intelligence Team received information that the 32-year-old man who now lives in Russia was involved in the cocaine trade,’ the Dutch Public Prosecution Service said.
‘He is also said to own crypto phones and has invested 200,000 euros in the trade.
‘That information prompted an investigation to be launched. Eavesdropping equipment was placed in the suspect’s car and the suspect was observed.
‘The accuracy of the TCI information was confirmed, partly by seized telephones from others in which conversations were found in which the suspects also participated.
‘Many chat messages made it clear that both suspects were involved in bringing in, removing and further transporting and selling these two consignments.’
Back in June, Promes was sentenced to 18 months in prison for stabbing his cousin.
The 31-year-old forward, who plays for Russian club Spartak Moscow, was arrested in December 2020 regarding the incident which happened in July that year.
The court in the Netherlands found charges of assault against Promes proven but found there was no attempted murder or manslaughter, according to ESPN.
The stabbing, to the leg, occurred at a family party at a warehouse in Abcoude after Promes got into an argument over a stolen necklace.
He was playing in the Netherlands for Ajax at the time but moved to Spartak in February 2021.
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