It’s reported that Dutch football star Quincy Promes is currently being detained by police at Dubai Airport while traveling to Russia.
After being sentenced to six years in prison for his involvement in a 1,350kg cocaine smuggling case and stabbing his cousin. This comes shortly after Promes participation in a training camp with Spartak Moscow.
On February 14, Promes was in the Netherlands sentenced to six years in prison for his involvement in smuggling over 1,350 kilos of cocaine in January 2020 in Antwerp.
Back in June last year, the Dutchman was sentenced to 18 months in prison for stabbing his cousin.
How Dutch footballer Promes was detained
The former Ajax star was stopped at border control and was not allowed to travel with his team-mates back to Russia.
The Netherlands’ Public Prosecution Service was not aware of Promes’ detention when it initially happened, according to De Telegraaf.
As per Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, it is suspected in Russia that Promes being held by Dubai police is connected to his criminal conviction.
However, this is unconfirmed. Promes was charged last May over his alleged involvement in smuggling the cocaine, which was intercepted in Antwerp in January 2020 in the form of two batches of 650kg and 713kg each.
The Public Prosecution Service officially found Promes and a 32-year-old co-suspect, guilty of importing, exporting, transporting and possessing the drugs.
It is alleged the cocaine was hidden in a shipment of sea salt from Brazil, where the drugs were transported from in two containers to Antwerp.
According to NOS, the former Ajax winger failed to turn up for the trial and, thus, never made a statement about the offenses charged against him.
Further reports suggested that the former Netherlands international feels ‘he’s untouchable’ – given the fact he avoided attending the court dates.
According to the NL Times, prosecutors said: ‘He seems to think he is untouchable in Russia or abroad’.
It’s also reported that prosecutors wanted to know ‘how such a successful footballer allowed himself to be drawn so deeply into crime.’
Dutch officials had initially sought out a nine-year prison sentence for the Spartak Moscow forward, when the case was brought forward last month.
When demanding the nine-year sentence, prosecutors alleged that Promes ‘normalises and almost romanticises the cocaine trade’.
Prosecutors claim Promes’ wealth meant he had money to invest and was one step higher on the organisational ladder as a result.
The 31-year-old forward, who plays for Russian club Spartak Moscow, was arrested in December 2020 regarding the incident which happened in July that year.
The court in the Netherlands found charges of assault against Promes proven, but found there was no attempted murder or manslaughter, according to ESPN.
The stabbing, to the leg, occurred at a family party at a warehouse in Abcoude after Promes got into an argument over a stolen necklace.
He was playing in the Netherlands for Ajax at the time but moved to Spartak in February 2021.
