Former Dutch international footballer, Quincy Promes, has been sentenced to six years in prison in absentia for drug trafficking.

Amsterdam District Court ruled that the 32-year-old – who plays in the Russian Premier League for Spartak Moscow – was involved in the import and export of hundreds of kilograms of cocaine in 20   20.

Promes, who lives in Moscow is not expected to return to the Netherlands in the foreseeable future. His lawyers told judges he denied the allegations of importing 1,360kg of cocaine through the port of Antwerp in Belgium to the Netherlands in two shipments.

They told Dutch newspaper AD the footballer would appeal his sentence.

Russia has no extradition treaty with the Netherlands, meaning that Promes can likely continue his career with Spartak if he simply refuses to return to his homeland. This is not the first time the winger has been in trouble with the law, as he was given an 18-month jail term for assault last year after stabbing his cousin at a party.

The court said phone-tapping showed Promes had been directly involved with the shipments of the drugs, hidden in shipments of salt from Brazil, and their further transport from the port.

“This makes it even more objectionable that the suspect tries to increase his wealth (and possibly also prestige in certain circles) through involvement in large international drug transports,” the court said.

The former Ajax and Sevilla forward made 50 appearances and scored seven times for the Dutch national side but was struck from the team after he was charged with trafficking in 2021.