Inside the 20 men-in-a-cell UAE prison housing Quincy Promes: Former Ajax star is in a freezing cold jail where no fruit or vegetables are served and rape is ‘an everyday occurrence’ – as he hopes to be sent to Russia, not Holland

The extent of Quincy Promes’ brutal living conditions in a UAE prison have been revealed in a new report.

Promes, a winger who has played for the likes of Ajax and Sevilla in his career, is serving a six-year prison sentence, handed to him last month, for his involvement in smuggling 1,363kg of cocaine with an estimated street value of £65million.

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

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

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

Promes was sentenced to six years in prison for involvement in cocaine smuggling in 2020 

He reportedly stays in a six-person cell with up to 20 prisoners also sleeping on the cell floor

At a jail in Al Aweer, Promes 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.

Perhaps most harrowingly, it is reported that rape is an everyday occurrence in the prison, with few guards patrolling the prison, which holds its detainees in freezing cold and noisy conditions due to strong air conditioners.

Prisoners in the jail must reportedly 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. 

There are also said to be concerns over prisoners being allowed visitors.

It is reported that rape is ‘an everyday occurrence’ with few guards on patrol in the jail

Promes is said to have requested an extradition to Russia, where he plays for Spartak Moscow

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

Russia, like the Netherlands, are said to have requested Promes is 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.’