Former Premier League footballer Ronnie Stam could face thirteen years behind bars and a financial penalty of £1.5 million after being accused of trafficking two tonnes of cocaine valued at £48 million.
The 40-year-old ex-Wigan Athletic defender appeared before a Dutch court in Breda on Tuesday, where prosecutors outlined their case against him.
The charges relate to alleged drug smuggling operations between 2020 and 2021, with authorities claiming the former footballer was involved in transporting cocaine from South America to the Netherlands.
Stam, who made 73 appearances for Wigan during three seasons in England’s top flight between 2010 and 2013, has been detained since his arrest last June.
Ronnie Stam is facing a 13-year prison sentence after being accused of smuggling two tonnes of cocaine
PA
The trial heard that prosecutors discovered evidence of drug shipments through encrypted phone conversations between Ronnie and his 43-year-old brother Rudi, who also stood trial alongside him.
According to the prosecution, messages between the siblings contained photographs of cocaine blocks, which formed part of the evidence presented to the court.
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The public prosecutor has requested that Stam be imprisoned until 2038 and fined €1.7 million for his alleged role in the trafficking operation.
His brother Rudi faces more than six years in prison plus an identical financial penalty if convicted of the charges against him.
Stam’s football career included winning the Dutch title with FC Twente in 2010 under former England manager Steve McClaren, before securing a £2 million transfer to Wigan Athletic that same year.
He featured in Wigan’s historic FA Cup-winning campaign of 2013 but missed the final against Manchester City, departing for Standard Liege afterwards.
During the court proceedings, Stam admitted involvement in a 20-kilogram shipment to Germany in 2020 but denied any further participation in drug trafficking.
The Breda-born former defender maintained that funds in his bank accounts originated from his professional football career rather than illegal activities.
The trial continues as both brothers await the court’s verdict on the serious drug trafficking charges.
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Ronnie Stam featured in Wigan’s historic FA Cup-winning campaign of 2013
PA
Rudi Stam’s potential six-year sentence represents a significant penalty, though considerably less than the thirteen years prosecutors are seeking for his younger brother Ronnie.
The former footballer’s claims about his wealth stemming from his playing career will likely be scrutinised given the substantial sums involved in the alleged cocaine operation.
Having been in custody since June last year, Ronnie Stam faces the prospect of remaining imprisoned until 2038 if convicted, marking a dramatic fall from his Premier League days.
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