Promes Faces Prison Term After Cocaine Trafficking Allegations
A Dutch court in Amsterdam has handed down a prison sentence for Spartak Moscow forward Quincy Promes, sentencing him to six years in prison on charges related to cocaine trafficking. The decision was reported by journalist Wesley Meyer via the social platform X. The ruling comes after a case that has drawn widespread attention across football circles and the international sports community.
Details from the hearing indicate that the court examined multiple facets of Promes’ alleged involvement with illegal drugs. The prosecutor had previously requested a nine-year term, arguing that the player played a notable role within a broader criminal operation. At the time of the proceedings, Promes was with Spartak Moscow during a training camp in the United Arab Emirates, continuing his professional commitments while the legal process concluded. The discrepancy between the prosecutor’s request and the final verdict underscores the complexity of the evidence presented and the court’s assessment of Promes’ degree of involvement.
In 2020, Belgian authorities stopped two shipments of drugs at the port of Antwerp, with a combined weight around 1,370 kilograms. Investigators asserted that Promes was connected to these shipments and alleged a link to a known drug dealer, who allegedly received a payment of 250,000 euros from Promes in exchange for cocaine. These claims contributed to the narrative of Promes being tied to a larger drug trafficking network and raised questions about the player’s influence within such circles. Both prosecutors and investigators presented telephone records demonstrating lines of communication in which Promes discussed potential investments and logistics related to drug trafficking operations.
Legal filings pointed to Promes as a leader within a broader criminal network, with investigators presenting recorded conversations that allegedly show planning and coordination for shipments of controlled substances. The defense has contested the interpretation of these communications, arguing that the recordings have been taken out of context and that there is insufficient proof tying Promes to the day-to-day management of criminal activities. The case has been scrutinized by fans and analysts who follow player transfers, contracts, and the reputational impact of off-field conduct on modern football careers. [citation: Wesley Meyer, X]
Promes joined Spartak Moscow in February 2021, marking a return to the club after an earlier spell with the team from 2014 to 2018. During the 2016/17 season the Dutch forward helped Spartak secure the Russian championship, contributing to a period remembered by supporters for its competitive vigor. In the current season, he appeared in seventeen Russian Premier League matches, recording six goals and six assists. The club’s campaign in the league involved eighteen rounds of play, with Spartak accumulating thirty points and finishing fifth, trailing the league leaders by eight points. In the opening match after a restart of the league, Spartak faced Zenit St. Petersburg, with kickoff scheduled for 19:30 Moscow time. [citation: club records and match schedules]
The broader narrative around Promes touches on how legal challenges can intersect with a player’s professional trajectory—how clubs manage roster decisions, media scrutiny, and the process of clearing a player for competition while criminal proceedings unfold. The case continues to be watched closely by supporters, sports legal experts, and pundits who assess the implications for sponsorship, transfers, and the future of players implicated in high-profile investigations. [citation: court records and official statements]