Former Wigan Athletic player Ronnie Stam has been sentenced to seven years in prison for his role in an international drug trafficking conspiracy. The 41-year-old Dutchman, who won the FA Cup with Wigan in 2013, was convicted in a court in Breda, Netherlands, for his part in a plot to import 700kg of cocaine from Chile.
The court ruled that Stam played a 'determining and coordinating role' in the operation, which involved his brother and contacts in Dubai. The drugs were destined for Rotterdam but were intercepted in Chile. Stam was also convicted of trafficking quantities of MDMA and possession of nitrous oxide.
Stam admitted involvement in a separate plan to smuggle 20kg of cocaine from Brazil to Frankfurt, claiming he would be paid 'an amount worth one kilo'. He expressed regret over his criminal behaviour, stating that the Frankfurt plot was his only contribution. However, the prosecution alleged he was also involved in money laundering worth £2.2m.
In addition to the prison term, Stam and his brother were ordered to pay a £25,871 fine and have around £1.5m in criminal proceeds confiscated. The Dutch Public Prosecution Service had initially sought a 13-year sentence, but not all charges could be proven.
Stam's football career included three years at Wigan Athletic, following a treble-winning season with FC Twente in 2010. He later played for Standard Liege and NAC Breda before retiring in 2016.
