Ex-Ajax star caught in Dubai Airport after evading six-year sentence for smuggling cocaine

The 32-year-old Spartak Moscow forward, renowned for his agility on the field, is now facing a daunting off-field challenge after being sentenced to a six-year imprisonment for his involvement in a major drug smuggling operation.

Promes' legal troubles have catapulted from bad to worse. Initially sentenced to 18 months for a violent altercation with his cousin, the Dutch winger's woes escalated with a staggering six-year sentence for his role in smuggling 1,363 kilograms of cocaine.

Despite these grave charges, Promes remained at large in Russia, avoiding incarceration until his recent trip to Dubai with his club led to his detention.

"Last month, Promes was handed a six-year jail term for his involvement in smuggling over 1,350 kilos of cocaine in January 2020.

That was after the ex-Ajax winger was sentenced to 18 months in prison for stabbing his cousin back in June," according to reports from the Sun, underscoring the gravity of his actions and their repercussions.

Once celebrated as a footballing hero, Promes' descent into criminal activities has left fans and authorities bewildered. His case has not only drawn attention due to its severity but also because of his status as a public figure.

"They claimed that Promes 'normalizes and almost romanticizes the cocaine trade' while the court also heard that there was extra focus placed on him because of his public image as a role model," highlighted the reports, revealing the broader implications of his actions.