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Metro
2 days ago
- Sport
- Metro
Ex-Premier League star accused of smuggling £48m of cocaine
A former Premier League player and FA Cup winner is facing up to 13 years in prison after being accused of smuggling £48 worth of cocaine. Former Wigan defender Ronnie Stam also faces the prospect of being fined up to £1.5m after he allegedly trafficked two tonnes of drugs. The 40-year-old in on trial in Breda alongside his brother Rudi, accused of smuggling cocaine from South America to the Netherlands. The public prosecutor has suggested Stam be sent to prison until 2038 and pay the £1.5m fine, while his brother Rudi could be imprisoned for six years with the same fine. The ex-Wigan player has been in custody for a year since he was first arrested over the allegations. A prosecutor told a hearing last September: 'This case concerns hundreds of kilos of cocaine each time. I contend that Stam was a major player in the drugs world.' Dutch broadcaster Omroepbrabant reports that when Stam heard of the 13 year sentence being called for, he suggested it was only because of his fame. 'My children had to cry about it,' he said. 'The youngest thinks he will never see me again and the oldest thinks I will miss his entire football career. 'More than for the biggest drug criminals. And that is only because this is a media case, because I was good at football.' The ex-footballer claims he is innocent, telling the judge: 'I am not a major player in the drug world.' The trial continues as the Stam brothers await a verdict, expected in August. The younger Stam signed for Wigan for £2m in 2010 after winning the Eredivisie with FC Twente. The right-back went on to play 62 times in the Premier League for Wigan and won the FA Cup with them in 2013, although he did not play in the final. More Trending He left Wigan in 2013 to sign for Standard Liege in Belgium before returning to NAC Breda, where he had made his professional debut. Stam retired in 2016 at just 32 years old, saying: 'I have thought long and hard about this choice. 'But it is physically better to put an end to my career now. The fact that NAC has not been promoted and is completely rebuilding has made that choice easier.' MORE: Arsenal hold meeting with Viktor Gyokeres' agent as striker makes Manchester United transfer call MORE: Thomas Tuchel says his mum finds Jude Bellingham's attitude 'repulsive' MORE: 'Be careful' – Emile Heskey warns £50m England star over Arsenal or Chelsea transfer
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Ex-Premier League star facing 13 YEARS in prison after being accused of smuggling TWO TONNES of cocaine
The former defender spent three years in the Premier League CHARGED Ex-Premier League star facing 13 YEARS in prison after being accused of smuggling TWO TONNES of cocaine FORMER Premier League star Ronnie Stam is facing THIRTEEN YEARS in jail - after being accused of smuggling two tonnes of cocaine. And the ex-Wigan defender could also be fined up to £1.5million if found guilty of trafficking the drugs, with a street value of £48m. Advertisement 3 Ex- Premier League ace Ronnie Stam is facing 13 years in jail 3 Ex-Wigan ace Stam is being accused of smuggling two tonnes of cocaine 3 Stam is on trial alongside his brother Rudi Stam, 40, had three top-flight seasons with the Latics - making 73 appearances. He played in their FA Cup-winning campaign of 2013, but missed the final against Manchester City before leaving for Standard Liege that year. But the now-retired player appeared in a Dutch court on Tuesday alongside his brother Rudi, 43. The trial at Breda heard that the brothers transported cocaine from South America to the Netherlands in 2020 and 2021. Advertisement Prosecutors said evidence of drug shipments was found in encrypted phone chats between Ronnie and Rudi. Photos of blocks of cocaine were reportedly seen among the duo's messages. The public prosecutor called for Stam to be imprisoned until 2038, and fined Є1.7m, for his part in the alleged crimes. Meanwhile, brother Rudi is facing over six years in jail, plus an identical fine, if found guilty. Advertisement Stam told the court that he has been involved in a 20 kilo shipment to Germany in 2020, but denied any further involvement in the drug trade. The Breda-born former defender claimed the money in his bank accounts had come from his football career. Stam won the Dutch title with FC Twente in 2010, under ex-England boss Steve McClaren, before landing a £2m move to Wigan that year. He has been in custody since first being arrested last June. Advertisement The trial continues.
