The Dutch international, currently residing in Russia, did not appear at the trial and will appeal the sentence.
Quincy Promes, the Dutch international winger known for his agility on the field and a career spanning several top European clubs, finds himself embroiled in a series of legal battles that stand in stark contrast to his footballing achievements.
The latest chapter in this tumultuous saga unfolded this Wednesday when the Amsterdam court handed down a six-year prison sentence to Promes for his involvement in a large-scale drug trafficking operation.
In 2020, authorities uncovered a sophisticated scheme to transport over 1350 kilograms of cocaine from Brazil to Belgium, using the bustling port of Antwerp as the entry point. This operation, marked by its audacity and scale, involved concealing the narcotics within two containers ostensibly carrying sea salt. While the first container managed to slip through the net, the second, laden with 712 kilograms of cocaine, was intercepted by vigilant Belgian officials.
The Dutch Public Prosecutor's Office, emphasizing the severity of the crime, initially sought a nine-year incarceration for Promes. However, the footballer, who has vehemently denied his involvement from the outset, was notably absent from the proceedings. His legal team argued that Promes was prioritizing his professional commitments over the trial, a stance that ultimately did little to sway the court's judgment.
Despite his non-participation, the absence of direct testimony from Promes did not deter the judiciary. Convicted in absentia, the decision was based on a robust collection of evidence amassed by investigators, painting a damning picture of Promes's alleged role in the operation. Notably, conversations intercepted by authorities suggested Promes had personally invested 75,000 euros into the illicit venture, implicating him further in the orchestration and financial backing of the drug trafficking operation.
Complicating matters further, a cousin of Promes also found himself entangled in the legal web, receiving a six-year sentence for his involvement in the same crime, with additional charges of money laundering compounding his legal woes.
This sentence adds another layer to Promes's troubled legal history. In the same year, he faced conviction for aggravated assault following an incident where he allegedly stabbed a family member during a heated altercation. That case, too, is ongoing, with Promes seeking to overturn the one-and-a-half-year prison sentence through the appeals process.
Promes's journey from the football pitches of Twente, Sevilla, and Ajax to his second tenure with Spartak Moscow has been marked by undeniable talent and promise. However, these legal challenges cast a long shadow over his career, threatening to overshadow his contributions to the sport. As the appeal process unfolds, the football world watches on, reminded of the complex interplay between talent, fame, and accountability.
