Former Ajax football star Quincy Promes has been sentenced to six years in prison for his role in smuggling over 1,350 kilograms of cocaine.
Promes faced charges last May related to the smuggling of the cocaine, which was intercepted in Antwerp in January 2020, arriving in two shipments of 650kg and 713kg each.
The Public Prosecution Service has officially declared Promes and a 32-year-old co-suspect guilty of importing, exporting, transporting and possessing the drugs. The cocaine was allegedly concealed in a shipment of sea salt from Brazil, transported to Antwerp in two containers.
According to reports, Promes, who now plays for Spartak Moscow, failed to appear for his trial and did not make a statement regarding the charges against him.
Dutch officials had initially sought a nine-year prison sentence for Promes. Prosecutors argued that Promes, with his wealth, was capable of investing in criminal activities and held a higher position within the drug trafficking organisation.
The case unfolded after authorities received information linking the 32-year-old suspect, who now resides in Russia, to the cocaine trade. Surveillance and intercepted communications confirmed the involvement of both suspects in the transportation, distribution and sale of the intercepted cocaine shipments.
This sentencing follows a prior incident in which Promes received an 18-month prison sentence for assault, involving a stabbing incident in 2020.
The court criticised Promes for his lack of remorse and failure to defend himself, resulting in a longer sentence.
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