A Dutch court sentenced Spartak Moscow and Netherlands national team striker Quincy Promes in absentia to six years in prison for his involvement in smuggling 1,350 kilograms of cocaine.
Quincey, 32, was accused of being involved in smuggling two shipments of cocaine to the Belgian port of Antwerp via the container ship Cap Saint-Nicolas in January 2020.
The first batch was hidden in bags of salt and included 650 pieces of cocaine. The second batch had a tiger logo stamped on it and weighed 712 kg after it was intercepted by Belgian police.
The prosecution had initially requested a nine-year prison sentence, but the court ruled that their request was based on previous cases involving harsh penalties.
Judge M. Vanderager said: “The suspect regularly appears in the news, is active on social media and has fans all over the world… Not only his sporting achievements, but also the wealth he flaunts, make him an example to many – the court posits – especially to young people.” .
“This increases the objection to the suspect’s attempt to increase his wealth (and perhaps also his standing in certain circles) by participating in large international drug transfers.”
Promes did not attend the hearing held on January 24, instead remaining in Russia to continue playing for Spartak.
The Dutch prosecutor’s office had charged him in May 2023 for his involvement and denied the allegations.
The former Ajax and Sevilla winger, who also won 50 caps for the Netherlands, was previously convicted in absentia and sentenced to 18 months in prison for stabbing his cousin at a family party.
In 2019, Promes moved from Dutch giants Ajax to Spanish club Sevilla.
He left Amsterdam in 2021 to join Spartak for a second spell, after playing for the club between 2014 and 2018.
Promes played 21 matches in all competitions with Spartak this season, scoring eight goals and making the same amount. His contract with Spartak expires in June 2024.
2024-02-14 14:05:00
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