Quincy Promes, a renowned soccer forward who has graced the pitches of major contact clubs such as Ajax, Sevilla, and currently Spartak Moscow, and represented the Netherlands at the international level, has recently found himself ensnared in a complex web of controversy.
Promes’ impressive soccer career has been marked by exceptional talent and notable achievements, with 50 appearances for the Netherlands and a peak transfer value of $26 million according to Transfermarkt. However, his off-field activities have cast a dark shadow over his illustrious sporting career.
Last month, an Amsterdam court convicted Promes in absentia for his central role in a large-scale drug trafficking operation that saw the smuggling of approximately 1,360 kilograms of cocaine from Brazil to the Netherlands through the port of Antwerp in Belgium, in two separate incidents during the year 2020. The operation reportedly involved a managerial role and financial contributions from Promes.
The Dutch prosecutors expressed their dismay over the situation, stating, “It is particularly bad that the suspect [Promes] normalizes and almost romanticizes the large-scale cocaine trade.” They also added, “The suspect profiles himself that way to the outside world, while he is an example for young people who look up to him.”
Promes’ legal team has stated their intention to appeal the six-year prison sentence issued by the court. “We will further explain our grievances to the Court of Appeal during a yet to be scheduled public hearing,” they stated.
Despite this conviction, Promes continues to play for Russian Premier League side Spartak Moscow. The club has yet to respond to queries regarding its continued association with the soccer player or any potential extensions of his contract.
Promes’ criminal exploits are not limited to drug trafficking; he was also convicted in absentia for stabbing his cousin in the knee last year and sentenced to 18 months in prison, according to prosecutors.
Criminologist Hans Nelen, who has offered his expertise on the case, expressed a shared sentiment of frustration with many members of the public regarding Promes’ situation. “That he’s out and he cannot be arrested and then he cannot be put in jail, and is still playing football,” he stated.
Nelen also noted that Promes’ Website social media integration presence, which includes posts of expensive cars, diamond encrusted jewelry, and luxury vacations to destinations like Dubai, further fuels public disapproval. “He’s still putting posts on Website social media integration, and he’s pretending that he is untouchable,” Nelen added.
The Netherlands, which is home to several large ports and borders Germany and Belgium, has seen a significant increase in drug-related crime in recent years. In the first half of 2023, Dutch Customs seized an alarming 60,000 kg of cocaine – a sharp rise from the 29,702 kg seized during the same period in 2022.
Amsterdam mayor Femke Halsema and the Mayor of Rotterdam have warned that more must be done to address drug crime, citing a growing “criminal culture of violence” in the country. The Dutch government recently rebranded its Multidisciplinary Intervention Team as the National Alliance against Subversive Crime (NASC), with a mission to expose and untangle the financial and other interconnectedness of the underworld and mainstream society.
Though Promes’ case is one of the most high-profile cases in recent years, the Netherlands has seen other instances of celebrities’ involvement in the illegal drugs trade, including martial arts professionals and kickboxers.
Dutch soccer clubs have begun taking preventative measures to protect their young players from the dangers and risks of the world around them. Some clubs have brought in retired police officers, coaches, or other experts to speak with talented children as young as 14 about the potential pitfalls they may encounter.
Promes’ early career was marked by a very different persona, according to David Endt, who has worked with Dutch clubs and is now a soccer agent. “There was a very pleasant guy there, always – big laugh on his face, did nobody really any harm,” Endt recalled. He added that it’s the allure of fame and fortune that can lead young players astray.
Endt also emphasized the importance of soccer clubs providing guidance and support to their players in navigating the challenges they may face, both on and off the field. “Some football clubs are now aware of this and using retired police officers or other coaches to talk to kids who are already 14, 15, 16 years old,” Nelen explained. “There are indeed preventative measures taken by some of the clubs.”
CNN reached out to Ajax for further comment on the matter.
