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Quincy Promes currently plays for Spartak Moscow.
CNN
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Quincy Promes, a leading European soccer player who was convicted in absentia of drug smuggling in the Netherlands last month, has been arrested in Dubai at the request of Dutch prosecutors, who are seeking his extradition, his lawyer announced.
Promes, who has played as a forward for major European clubs Ajax, Sevilla and now Spartak Moscow, has been accused by Dutch prosecutors of being the central figure in a drug-trafficking operation in which Promes was involved in smuggling approximately 1,360 kilograms of cocaine from the Netherlands. He was sentenced in absentia to six years in prison. from Brazil to the Netherlands in 2020 in two separate incidents.
“The extradition process must be completed in the United Arab Emirates,” Promes' Dutch lawyer said in a statement on the company's website.
“We would like to point out that an independent judge in Dubai will decide on the Dutch extradition request.
“In general, extradition proceedings take a considerable amount of time and involve a number of formal steps and requirements. This is also entirely common in the Netherlands. The outcome and duration of extradition proceedings cannot be predicted at this time.”
The 32-year-old reportedly arrived in Dubai in January with Spartak Moscow to train during Russian football's winter break.
CNN has contacted Dubai Police, Spartak Moscow and Prometh spokespeople for comment.
Promes' lawyer previously said he denied the drug trafficking charges and would appeal his six-year sentence. CNN has reached out to Promes' lawyer for comment on his arrest in Dubai.
Last year, Promes was separately convicted in absentia of stabbing his cousin in the knee and sentenced to 18 months in prison, prosecutors said, according to Reuters.
Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images Europe/Getty Images
Promes celebrates after scoring a goal for Spartak Moscow in the Europa League Group C match against SSC Napoli at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on September 30, 2021 in Naples, Italy.
The Amsterdam public prosecutor's office confirmed in a statement on Wednesday that “a 32-year-old man from Moscow was arrested in Dubai,” noting that the arrest was made on the basis of a red notice issued by the Netherlands.
A red notice asks law enforcement to locate and tentatively arrest a suspect.
“According to various media reports, the arrested man is said to have been spending a luxurious stay in Dubai. However, thanks to the efforts of the authorities of both countries, he was detained,” the Amsterdam public prosecutor's office said in a statement. Ta.
“At this time, we are unable to provide additional information to avoid disrupting the ongoing investigation,” the Dutch prosecutor's office added.
Promes made 50 appearances for the Dutch national team and was worth $26 million at one point in his career, according to the reputable website Transfermarkt.
“The Netherlands will formally request extradition. Further extradition proceedings will be determined by UAE law,” Dutch prosecutors told CNN in a statement.
“Once the Netherlands receives notification that the UAE consents to the extradition request, arrangements for the actual extradition of the requested individual will be made,” they added.
According to Transfermarkt, Promes' contract with Spartak Moscow runs until the end of June 2024.
So far, the Russian club has not responded to CNN's requests for comment on whether Spartak will continue to play in Promes or whether his contract will be extended.