Former Ajax star and Netherlands international Quincy Promes is being prosecuted by Dutch authorities for helping to smuggle 1,370 kilograms of cocaine into Europe.
Promes spent two years with Ajax between 2019 and 2021, scoring 22 goals in 53 appearances for the Dutch giants. He left for Spartak Moscow in February 2021 but now finds himself in hot water back in the Netherlands.
The country's Public Prosecution Service have confirmed that Promes has been accused of attempting to smuggle in two batches of about 650 kilos and 713 kilos. These were intercepted in the port of Antwerp in January 2020.
Together the two shipments would have have been worth roughly £65million on the streets. A pre-trial hearing has been scheduled to take place in the Netherlands on Monday, according to NOS.
If Promes does not return to the Netherlands to answer the charges, the case can be handled by a lawyer authorised to appear for him.
Promes is currently being prosecuted for allegedly stabbing his cousin in the knee at a family event. He previously denied the allegations but was allegedly heard confessing to the stabbing in a police wire-tap.
Dutch prosecutors have demanded a two-year prison sentence for the former Netherlands international in relation to the incident. That trial started on Friday and is alleged to have happened at a birthday party in Abacoude in 2020.
Promes has pleaded not guilty and did not attend the opening of the trial while he fulfils his contract in Russia. A charge of attempted murder was dropped by prosecutors amid insufficent evidence.
"The public prosecution service has demanded two years against a man who is suspected of stabbing his cousin in the knee. Based on the police investigation, the prosecution suspects the man of aggravated assault," prosecutors said.
"It may have to do with the theft of jewellery from an aunt -- the suspect accused the victim of having something to do with it."
Promes' lawyer Robert Malevicz has declined to comment substantively, instead saying: "I will do that during the session next Monday." The phone tap which has led to the trial was in place due to an investigation into an ongoing drug-smuggling case.
He was part of the Dutch squad which was knocked out in the last 16 of Euro 2020, but has not featured for the Oranje since.
