Former Premier League player in hot water for smuggling cocaine

Kofi Dekye Acquaye

1 day ago

Former Premier League player in hot water for smuggling cocaine

Ronnie Stam, Former Premier League defender could be locked up in prison after being accused of smuggling heavy amounts of cocaine worth millions.

The 40-year-old former Wigan Athletic stalwart could get 13 years prison sentence if found guilty. He appeared in a Dutch court this week facing serious drug trafficking charges. The player could get 13 years behind bars and pay a huge fine of around £1.5 million.

The court in Breda heard that Stam and his older brother Rudi, 43, allegedly moved two tones of cocaine from South America to the Netherlands between 2020 and 2021. The drugs had a street value of about £48 million. His brother could spend six years behind bars is found guilty.

Rudi Stam is also in serious trouble, facing more than six years in prison and the same massive fine if found guilty.

During the hearing, Ronnie Stam admitted to being involved in moving 20 kilos of drugs to Germany in 2020. However, he denied any other involvement in drug dealing and insisted the money in his bank accounts came from his football career.

Stam played for Wigan between 2010 and 2013, making 73 appearances during his three seasons in England’s topflight. He was part of their famous FA Cup-winning squad in 2013, though he missed the final against Manchester City. After that triumph, he moved to Belgian side Standard Liege.

Before joining Wigan for £2 million in 2010, Stam had won the Dutch league title with FC Twente under former England manager Steve McClaren.