Life has been difficult for Dutch winger, Quincy Promes, who is serving a six-year prison sentence in the United Arab Emirates, UAE.

Quincy Promes, who has played for Ajax and Sevilla, was handed a jail term in February over his involvement in smuggling 1,363kg of cocaine with an estimated street value of £65 million.

The sentence came after Promes received an 18-month sentence in June 2023 for stabbing his cousin in the knee at a family party.

Reports, however, have revealed that the extent of Quincy Promes’ brutal living conditions in a UAE prison has been worrisome as he is being kept in a cell for 20 inmates, according to Daily Mail.

The 32-year-old has been far away from any of the legal proceedings and living in Russia, contracted to Spartak Moscow, but was stopped by border control a month ago and barred from traveling back to Russia.

Moreover, in a report by Daily Mail quoting the renowned crime reporter John van den Heuvel for De Telegraaf, the reality of Promes’ new life has been detailed as he looks to be sent back to Russia as soon as possible.

It was reliably gathered, that Quincy Promes, at a jail in Al Aweer, reportedly stays in a six-person cell, sleeping in a double bunk bed with up to 20 prisoners also sleeping on the floor of the cell.

Though he is allowed to exercise three times a week, there is said to be no exercise equipment, making it difficult for Promes to keep fit while he is serving his sentence.

The challenge is made harder due to no fruit or vegetables being served, with Promes allowed to watch television outside his cell during the day alongside the other prisoners.

He is said to be housed alongside four other Dutch inmates who are also awaiting extradition, with other inmates mostly of Pakistani, Egyptian and Indian descent who are addicts and are not aware of Promes’ status.

Another harsh condition he is subjected to is that the prisoners have a shaved head at all times, starting when they enter and they are punished if their hair gets long, with punishments including bans on TV and calls to home.

Also, there is a reported case of rape every day in the prison, with few guards patrolling the prison, which holds its detainees in cold and noisy conditions due to strong air conditioners.

Though he is Dutch, Promes is said to have requested he be extradited to Russia rather than the Netherlands so he can avoid his jail sentence in his homeland.

Russia, like the Netherlands, is said to have requested Promes be sent to the country due to a suspected tax fraud. 

Promes’ lawyers had previously said of his situation: “We point out that an independent judge in Dubai will now decide on the Dutch request for extradition. In general, extradition proceedings can take quite some time and involve many formal steps and requirements. 

“This is also completely common in the Netherlands. The outcome and duration of the extradition procedure cannot be predicted at this time.”