Former Netherlands footballer Quincy Promes has given his first detailed statement about his role in a major cocaine smuggling case.
His lawyer, Geert-Jan Knoops, revealed the development during a hearing at the Amsterdam Court of Appeal.
Promes reportedly answered questions for an entire day during a closed hearing in June 2026.
“He explained how he became involved in the case,” Knoops told the court.
The lawyer said Promes also discussed the use of encrypted phones. The full details of his statement have not been made public.
An Amsterdam court sentenced Promes to six years in prison in February 2024.
The court found him guilty of helping to smuggle more than 1,350 kilograms of cocaine through the Belgian port of Antwerp in 2020.
The case involved two shipments weighing 650 and 712 kilograms. Customs officers intercepted one shipment, while the other was removed from the port.
Prosecutors relied partly on messages taken from encrypted communication services.
Promes missed the original court hearings and denied taking part in the operation. The court convicted him in his absence.
He later appealed the ruling.
The appeals court has now approved a request to question Promes’ cousin, Marylio V., about the new statement.
The questioning is expected to take place in November.
Marylio V. originally received a six-year prison sentence. The appeals court reduced it to three years and eight months in March 2026.
Judges will examine the main evidence in Promes’ appeal on November 30 and December 2.
The court will also hear his appeal against an 18-month sentence for stabbing a relative during a family gathering in Abcoude in 2020.
Both convictions remain under appeal.
Promes returned to the Netherlands after the United Arab Emirates extradited him in June 2025. He remains in custody while the legal cases continue.
The former Ajax and Spartak Moscow winger made 50 appearances for the Netherlands and scored seven international goals.
