Latest news with #DutchPublicProsecution
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Ex-Premier League star given SEVEN-YEAR prison sentence for role in multi-million-pound drug smuggling ring
A former Premier League footballer has been given seven years in prison for his role in a multi-million-pound drug smuggling ring. Ronnie Stam, 41, who played for Wigan for three years from 2010, was described by the Dutch Public Prosecution Service as a big hitter in the criminal underworld. Stam was charged with trying to smuggle £48m-worth of cocaine (2,217 kilos) into the Netherlands. The prosecution asked for the judge to give Stam a 13-year sentence but he was found not guilty of two of the more serious charges. The former Dutch title-winner was instead convicted of smuggling 724kg of cocaine into the Netherlands in addition to MDMA and possession of laughing gas (nitrous oxide). At the courthouse in Breda, it was also alleged that Stam and his accomplices were in possession of 18 litres of nitrous oxide and tried to smuggle 20kg of drugs from South America - saying he laundered £2m. Ronnie Stam (right), pictured playing for Wigan in 2010, has been convicted of drug smuggling Stam (right), pictured here with Eden Hazard (left), said he regretted his involvement Stam admitted to being involved in a plot to smuggle 20kg of cocaine to Frankfurt from Brazil. He revealed that his payment would have been the value of one kilo. Stam insisted that was the extent of his involvement in the plot and confessed to regretting becoming involved with criminals. The former footballer retired from playing back in 2016 before turning to crime. He will have to repay £1.7m in illegally gained profits as part of his punishment in addition to the seven year prison sentence. Stam enjoyed a successful playing career, featuring for Wigan 73 times and winning the Dutch Eredivisie with FC Twente under Steve McLaren before that. After his time in the north of England, he moved to Belgian side Standard Liege before re-joining boyhood club NAC Breda for one season before hanging up his boots.
New York Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Ex-Premier League defender Ronnie Stam sentenced to seven years for drug-smuggling
Ronnie Stam, the former Dutch title-winner and Premier League footballer, has been sentenced to seven years in prison for his part in a multi-million-pound drug-smuggling operation. Stam, whose career included three years at Wigan Athletic, was charged with plotting to smuggle more than two tons (2,217 kilos) of cocaine into the Netherlands with a street value of €41.5million (£48.6 million; $65.7m). Advertisement The Dutch Public Prosecution Service had described Stam as being a big-hitter in the Dutch underworld and asked the judge to impose a 13-year sentence. However, the judge at Breda courthouse acquitted the former footballer of two of the more serious charges. Stam was convicted instead for trafficking 724 kilos of cocaine, as well as quantities of MDMA and possession of nitrous oxide, aka laughing gas. The prosecution alleged that Stam and his accomplices colluded to smuggle the drugs from South America and that he was responsible for money-laundering to a value of £2.2m, as well as possessing 18 litres of nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas. Stam, 41, admitted that he had been involved in a plot to smuggle 20 kilos of cocaine from Brazil to the German city of Frankfurt. His payment, he said, was 'an amount worth one kilo.' But that, he insisted, was his sole involvement and he said he regretted his association with the criminal ringleaders. Stam was part of Steve McClaren's title-winning FC Twente side in 2010 before signing for Wigan Athletic, going on to play 73 games for the English club. However, he missed the 2011 FA Cup final win over Manchester City after breaking his leg in Wigan's previous match. He later moved to Belgian club Standard Liege before returning to the Netherlands to rejoin NAC Breda, the club where he began his 14-year playing career. However, the police investigation revealed that, after his retirement as a footballer in 2016, he had turned to serious crime. As part of his punishment, Stam will also have to repay €1.7m in illegal profits. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle
