Footballer Quincy Promes receives six year prison sentence for cocaine smuggling

Six years sentence
Drug trafficking
Millions
Arranging the operation
Police interception
Gangland boss
Compensation
Staying in Russia
Not his first run-in
Stabbing his cousin
Serious knee injury
Will he serve any time?
He will be arrested if he returns to Europe
Moscow
Dutch national team
Playing for Sevilla
Going home
Most recent stint
Six years sentence

Former Ajax and the Netherlands footballer Quincy Promes has been sentenced to six years in prison, as reported by Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf.

Drug trafficking

The Spartak Moscow forward was being prosecuted for the alleged smuggling of more than 1350kg of cocaine, which was intercepted in the harbor of the Belgian city of Antwerp.

Millions

The Dutch player was accused of investing in the drug smuggling operation that netted a Surinamese-Dutch baron over $6 million, a court had been told.

Arranging the operation

Promes was accused of being in charge of arranging for runners to take blocks of cocaine off a ship to a shisha lounge in Antwerp.

Police interception

The police intercepted calls and text messages that showed the Spartak Moscow player was involved in transporting the drugs, which were hidden on board a ship in January 2020.

Gangland boss

According to dutchnews, Promes' shipment was part of a smuggling operation headed by Surinamese-Dutch gangland boss Siegfried 'Piet' Wortel.

Compensation

The Dutch Justice Department stated that it believed Promes lost 400kg of cocaine to a rival gang and had to pay Wortel over $250,000 as compensation.

Staying in Russia

Promes did not appear in court during the trial, choosing to stay in Russia, where his current team Spartak Moscow plays.

Not his first run-in

His drug smuggling involvements are not his first run-in with the law, being charged with attempted murder and assault in November 2021 after stabbing a family member.

Stabbing his cousin

Promes was accused of stabbing his cousin in the knee at a family party in July 2020, in an argument over a stolen necklace. According to the BBC, the relative suffered a serious knee injury and filed a complaint with the Dutch Police in November 2020.

Serious knee injury

Promes was sentenced to one-and-a-half years in prison, NOS reported, on June 19 after being found guilty of the stabbing, the charge being downgraded from attempted murder to assault. Promes is being forced to pay £6000 in damages to his cousin following the assault.

Will he serve any time?

Given he is in Russia, it's unclear whether Promes will return to the Netherlands to serve his prison sentence. According to NOS, there is no extradition agreement between Russia and the Netherlands, and it can only be requested if Promes fails with any appeal.

He will be arrested if he returns to Europe

However, because of the drug trafficking allegations, Promes would be arrested if he sets foot in Europe or any country with an extradition treaty with the Netherlands. Russian clubs are currently banned from playing in UEFA's competitions in Europe because of the conflict in Ukraine.

Moscow

Promes returned to Spartak Moscow in 2021 after a successful previous spell with the club between 2014 and 2018, where he won the Russian Player of the Year in 2017.

Dutch national team

Promes played 50 times for the Dutch National team, scoring seven goals, according to Transfermarkt. Since his criminal lifestyle has come to light, he has not been picked for national team games.

Playing for Sevilla

Once his successful first stint in Moscow had finished, Promes joined Spanish giants Sevilla in 2018, producing two goals and six assists in La Liga.

Going home

After a season in Spain, the Dutch winger joined European giants Ajax, winning the Eredivisie and Johan Cruyff Shield.

Most recent stint

Despite the cases against him, Promes is having a good second spell in Moscow, where he has already won several trophies and produced more than 100 goals.

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