Dutch footballer Quincy Promes arrested in Dubai; Yet to serve 7.5 year prison term

Former Dutch national football player Quincy Promes was arrested by authorities in Dubai on Thursday. Promes remains a fugitive from justice in the Netherlands, having been convicted in a scheme to traffic 1,362 kilograms of cocaine, and in a separate case involving the stabbing of his cousin.

It was not immediately clear if Promes was detained at the request of authorities in the Netherlands, but this week, prosecutors in the Netherlands confirmed their attempt to extradite Promes was "at an advanced stage." His attorney, Cem Polat, confirmed the arrest to the Telegraaf and ANP.

The newspaper reported Promes was apprehended at his home in the city on Thursday morning. He was then brought to a detention center in Dubai.

Earlier this week, the Amsterdam Court of Appeal denied the 33-year-old's request to appear in the Netherlands without being arrested should he travel to the country for hearings on his earlier convictions. “He wants to explain himself, but he also wants to continue his professional footballing career,” his attorney told the court.

Judges were told Promes has “several offers” to play football professionally both in the Netherlands and abroad. "There will be no suspension of the detention order," the court ruled on Tuesday.

Promes was arrested in Amsterdam in December 2020 on allegations that he stabbed his cousin at a party. While the matter was under investigation, Promes left the country to play football for Spartak Moscow. He was convicted without personally appearing before the district court, and was sentenced to 1.5 years in prison.

Dutch authorities then indicted Promes on drug trafficking charges, alleging he helped finance the import of two consignments of cocaine via the Port of Antwerp in January 2020. The case was based on the capture of encrypted chat messages, prompting prosecutors to file charges in May 2023. He did not appear in court alongside his co-defendant, Marylio V. from Purmerend. Both men were were convicted, with judges sentencing Promes to six more years in prison, three fewer than what prosecutors wanted.

Promes filed an appeal in both cases, leading up to the court's decision this week that he would be jailed if he shows up in the Netherlands before the case is concluded. Prosecutors said they wanted Promes back in the Netherlands "as soon as possible," ANP reported. Talks have been ongoing for at least a year.

Should the arrest in Dubai be related to the footballer's extradition, he would likely be flown back to the Netherlands while in the custody of the Marechaussee, a branch of the Dutch military. However, when Promes was arrested in Dubai over two years ago during Spartak's training camp, authorities in the United Arab Emirates did not hand him over to the Netherlands.

He was taken into custody on an accusation he played a role in a traffic accident there, left the scene of the incident, and was then apprehended at the airport because of an Interpol bulletin regarding his fugitive status in the Netherlands. He was released from custody, but was re-arrested after sharing extravagant posts on social media while on bond.

He was later let out of jail, but was not sent back to the Netherlands, despite the recent extradition agreement between the two countries. Promes was dropped by Spartak in July 2024, where he ranks sixth on the club's all-time scorer list with 114 goals in 235 matches.