Quincy Promes European footballer Quincy Promes arrested in Dubai at Dutch request over involvement in drug smuggling
European football player Quincy Promes, who was convicted in absentia for drug smuggling last month in the Netherlands, has been arrested in Dubai, media reports said.
According to reports, he was arrested at the request of Dutch prosecutors.
The footballer was convicted in absentia to six years in prison after Dutch prosecutors earlier argued he was involved in a drug trafficking operation where some 1,360 kilograms of cocaine was smuggled from Brazil to the Netherlands in 2020 in two separate instances.
Reacting to the development, Promes’ Dutch lawyers in a statement: "Today various media reported on the arrest of our client Quincy Promes in Dubai. The Dutch Public Prosecutor reports that a 32-year-old Dutchman, residing in Moscow, has been arrested for the purpose of extradition to the Netherlands. The reason for this request by the Public Prosecutor’s Office would be the conviction by the Amsterdam District Court on February 14, 2024 in connection with alleged involvement in the importation of narcotics. The court imposed a six-year prison sentence on Promes."
Quincy Promes has always denied having been involved in the facts alleged by the court.
"In the United Arab Emirates, the extradition procedure will now have to be completed. We note that an independent judge in Dubai will now decide on the Dutch request for extradition. In general, an extradition procedure can take quite some time and has many formal steps and requirements. This is customary in the Netherlands as well. The outcome and duration of the extradition procedure cannot be predicted at this time," the statement said.
The footballer reportedly arrived in Dubai in January.
Amsterdam Public Prosecution Office confirms the footballer's arrest
The Amsterdam Public Prosecution office confirmed his arrest and wrote in a statement: "After constructive cooperation between the authorities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Netherlands, a 32-year-old man residing in Moscow has been arrested in Dubai. The arrest was made based on a Red Notice issued by the Netherlands. Netherlands will request the extradition of the man."
Police said he reportedly was staying in luxury in Dubai.
"However, he has been taken into custody thanks to the efforts of the authorities in both countries. At this time, it is not possible to provide additional information to avoid disruption of the ongoing investigation," police said.
What is a Red Notice?
A Red Notice is a request to law enforcement worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition, surrender, or similar legal action.
"It is based on an arrest warrant or court order issued by the judicial authorities in the requesting country," police said in a statement.
Member countries apply their own laws in deciding whether to arrest a person.
Who is Promes?
Promes is a Dutch professional footballer playing for Russian Premier League side Spartak Moscow.
He represented the Netherlands national team at the international level as a winger or forward.
In 2019, Promes signed for his boyhood club Ajax, where he regained form and was a key player.
He played for the Netherlands at UEFA Euro 2020. Promes moved back to Spartak in 2021.
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