Dubai, United Arab Emirates – Quincy Promes, a forward for Spartak Moscow, has recently been arrested in Dubai at the request of the Netherlands government. This arrest comes after Promes was sentenced to six years in prison last month for his involvement in drug trafficking. Dutch prosecutors have confirmed that they will seek his extradition to the Netherlands, as Promes did not participate in court hearings for his case in Amsterdam and is not expected to return to the country anytime soon.
Authorities stated that Promes, a former Netherlands international with 50 caps for his country, was apprehended on a red notice, which is a global request for law enforcement agencies to locate and arrest an individual pending extradition. The Amsterdam public prosecution service revealed that Promes had been living luxuriously in Dubai before his arrest, but thanks to the efforts of both Dutch and Emirati authorities, he was taken into custody.
In February, Promes was convicted in absentia by a Dutch court for his role in smuggling 1,350 kilograms of cocaine, specifically in two shipments into the Belgian port of Antwerp in January 2020. Despite denying any involvement, he was found guilty of smuggling cocaine disguised within sacks of salt and bearing a logo of a tiger. Initially facing a nine-year sentence, the court ultimately sentenced Promes to six years in prison, a verdict that his representatives have appealed.
Promes’ legal team, Cleerdin & Hamer Advocaten, has challenged the court’s decision on his behalf, maintaining his innocence and requesting a reassessment of his alleged role in the case by the Amsterdam Court of Appeal. While the extradition process in the UAE is underway, the outcome and timeline remain uncertain. Additionally, Promes has faced previous legal issues, including a conviction for stabbing his cousin at a family gathering, for which he was sentenced to 18 months in prison and has also denied all charges.