The Spartak Moscow winger was not present at the trial in Amsterdam (Picture: Getty)
Former Ajax forward Quincy Promes has been handed a six-year prison sentence for his role in smuggling cocaine into the Netherlands.
Promes was found guilty of importing, exporting, transporting and possessing cocaine, although was not present for his trial in Amsterdam.
His lawyers told judges that he denied the allegations and one of them said he would appeal the verdict.
Promes currently plays for Russian side Spartak Moscow but could avoid jail time if he does not return to his home country as the two countries do not have an extradition treaty agreement in place.
The alleged incident took place in January 2020 when two batches of cocaine were found hidden in bags of sea salt on a container ship from Brazil.
Promes’ involvement in the scheme was uncovered after Dutch criminal intelligence teams found messages involving the 32-year-old.
‘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.
Quincy Promes scored seven goals in 50 matches for the Netherlands (Picture: Getty)
‘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.’
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The former Dutch international was also found guilty of aggravated assault last June for stabbing his cousin in 2020 and was given an 18-month prison sentence.
Promes, who made fifty appearances for the Dutch national side, returned to Spartak in February 2021 after stints at Sevilla and Ajax.
He has notched up eight goals and eight assists in all competitions this season and recently travelled to Dubai with the squad for a warm-weather training camp.
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