Former Ajax striker Quincy Promes sentenced to 6 years imprisonment for drug smuggling into Netherlands

Former Ajax and Sevilla striker Quincy Promes has been sentenced after smuggling hundreds of kilograms of cocaine into the Netherlands; however, he lives in Moscow and was convicted in absentia.

Quincy scored seven goals in 50 international matches for the Netherlands.

On Wednesday, February 14, the Amsterdam District Court ruled that the 32-year-old Promes – who plays for Spartak Moscow – was involved in the import and export of hundreds of kilograms of cocaine in 2020.

Promes is not expected to return to the Netherlands “in the foreseeable future,” according to reports.

His lawyers told judges he denied the allegations. Prosecutors had asked judges to sentence him to nine years for his involvement in the smuggling of 1,360kg of cocaine through the port of Antwerp in Belgium to the Netherlands in two shipments.

The court said phone taps had shown that Promes had been directly involved with the shipments of the drugs, hidden in shipments of salt from Brazil, and their further transport from the port.

In a written verdict, the court added that Promes got involved in the drug imports despite being a highly paid footballer with legions of fans and followers on social media.

“This makes it even more objectionable that the suspect tries to increase his wealth (and possibly also prestige in certain circles) through involvement in large international drug transports,” the court said.

Promes’ lawyers told the Dutch newspaper AD Promes would appeal his sentence, as he denies the charges of importing, exporting, transporting, and possessing the drugs.

In another Dutch court case, he was last year sentenced in absentia to 18 months in jail for assault in connection with a fight in 2020 in which he stabbed a cousin in the knee. Promes has filed an appeal against that sentence as well.