Former Dutch international footballer Quincy Promes was arrested yesterday at Dubai airport, the Dutch public prosecution department confirmed on Friday, following Russian media reports.

The 32-year-old, who plays for Spartak Moscow, was sentenced to six years in jail in absentia last month for his part in smuggling more than a tonne of cocaine into the Netherlands via Antwerp.

Promes is also facing 18 months in jail after a court convicted him last June of stabbing his nephew at a family gathering in 2020. That case was built on evidence gathered by police investigating the drug smuggling operation.

The player, who has won 50 caps for the Netherlands, joined Spartak Moscow from Ajax in February 2021 for €8.5 million shortly after he was first arrested in connection with the stabbing.

Less than two years earlier Ajax had paid €15.7 million to re-sign Promes, who joined the club’s academy at the age of 10, from Spanish club Sevilla.

The prosecution department spokesman told broadcaster NOS the Netherlands is in talks with the United Arab Emirates about the arrest but did not say if a formal extradition request had been issued. Promes was arrested “in connection with infringing local laws” the spokesman said.

According to Russian media, he may have been involved in a traffic accident and had left the scene without reporting it. The rest of the team flew back on Moscow on Friday, leaving Promes in police custody.

The Netherlands has had an extradition treaty with the UAE since 2021.