In the Dutch city of Breda, the trial of the former champion of this country and the winner of the FA Cup of England, Ronnie Stam, for smuggling two tons of cocaine, started today.
The 40-year-old was arrested in June on suspicion of drug offenses committed in 2021 and 2022. Since then, he has been in custody and today his trial has started in Breda.
The former Dutch defender, who played in the Premier League for Wigan for four years and won the FA Cup with the side in 2013, beating Manchester City in the final, was arrested along with four other family members, while the investigation is also being committed for alleged money laundering.
This morning, the Breda court opened the hearing for the suspected trafficking of 2217 kilograms of cocaine.
“This case concerns hundreds of kilograms of cocaine. I claim that Stam was a major player in the drug world,” the prosecutor declared at the hearing.
Stam did not appear in court at the start of the trial to hear the charges, but will appear before a judge on November 28.
Oud-voetballer Ronnie S. verdacht van handel in 2200 kilos of cocaïne.https://t.co/Vtz9vuK8rY pic.twitter.com/AQpoEzZPAI
— Telesport Voetbal (@televoetbal) September 12, 2024
The former footballer, who also managed to become the champion of the Netherlands with the Twente jersey, was arrested after the police discovered the coded messages.
His money, three properties, a yacht, three cars, six luxury watches and jewelry were confiscated. Unlike the rest of the family, Ronnie Stam is the only one still in custody.
His lawyer asked the court to temporarily release the former footballer, but the judge refused, expressing fears that Stam would flee to join his brother in Dubai. /Football Match Up/
