Quincy Promes was sentenced to 6 years in prison for smuggling 1.36 tons of cocaine, with an estimated value of £65 million. Promes planned to go to Russia to play for Spartak Moscow during the proceedings, but was arrested by border control in Dubai at the request of Dutch authorities last month. After the court announced the verdict in February, the Dutch player is currently living in Al Aweer prison in the UAE.

According to De Telegraaf, the former Ajax star stayed in the cell and slept on bunk beds, with up to 20 other prisoners lying on the floor. The cell was freezing cold, noisy, and rapes were a daily occurrence because the prison had only a handful of guards. Prisoners are also forced to shave their heads, otherwise they will lose the right to watch TV or have a phone.

Prisons also do not allow prisoners to eat fruits and vegetables. They are also only allowed to exercise a maximum of 3 times a week. The former Dutch football star can only watch TV outside his cell during the day with other inmates. Promes still has a contract with Spartak until 2025. He wants to be extradited to Russia so he doesn’t have to serve his sentence in his home country. Promes shared a cell with Dutch prisoners who were also waiting to be returned.

The former player’s lawyer said the extradition procedure could take quite a while because there are many steps and requirements. It is unclear when they will complete the extradition procedure in the Netherlands.

Midfielder Promes is famous for playing for Sevilla and Ajax, and has 50 caps for the Netherlands national team. In 2019, Promes left Ajax and joined Sevilla, before moving to Spartak Moscow in 2023.