In a move that would shake Maradona's boots, former Ajax star Quincy Promes faces a 9-year prison sentence for his role in importing nearly 1300 kilos (2900 pounds) of cocaine from South America to Europe. That is a whopping $85 million worth of drugs.
You read that right. The Dutch Public Prosecution Office demands the immediate arrest of the footballer and his coordinating uncle over the smuggling case. The problem for prosecutors, though, is Promes' location — the 32-year-old currently plays for Spartak Moscow, 2800 kilometers (1740 miles) from Amsterdam.
Promes' Russian refuge from Dutch Prosecutors
Russia and the Netherlands do not have an extradition treaty that would force the player to return to his home country. As long as Promes remains in Russia, he can keep playing with Narodnaya Komanda and avoid interrogation and, ultimately, prosecution.
Interestingly, he's recently been seen in Dubai celebrating New Year's with Paul Pogba and Memphis Depay.
The cocaine import supposedly took place in Antwerp in January 2020 when police intercepted a phone call in which the winger talked about investing about $80,000 in the drug trade.
This isn't Promes' first run-up with the law. In 2000, the 50-time capped Dutch international reportedly stabbed his cousin at a family outing. The player failed to attend the initial trial last June due to his involvement with Spartak Moscow overseas.
Promes, previously linked with a move to Liverpool in 2017, enjoyed stints with Twente, Spartak Moscow, Sevilla, and Ajax before returning for a second spell at Moscow in 2021, where he became the top scorer in club history last year.
Due to his illicit actions off-the-field issues, Promes is trying to obtain Russian citizenship to avoid ever going behind bars. If so, he'd join footballers Adam Johnson, Ruben Semedo, and most recently, Dani Alves in facing prison sentences for criminal offenses.
Photo: Instagram/qPromes
