29 July 2023 , 09:57
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David Mendes da Silva has been sentenced to seven years in prison for drug trafficking, according to reports in the Netherlands.
The ex-professional footballer, who won seven senior caps for the Netherlands between 2007 and 2009, was allegedly involved in a cocaine smuggling plot. He was found guilty of importing two batches of cocaine weighing 74 and 105 kilograms.
Mendes da Silva was acquitted of direct involvement in a third case, which involved more than 1300 kilograms of cocaine, but the judge convicted him for "criminal preparatory actions" in that case. He's also been found guilty of selling drugs.
The 40-year-old, who was arrested on his birthday last August, is alleged to have bribed a corrupt employee in the shipping industry at the request of someone else. It's claimed that allowed him to know the location of the container housing the shipment of cocaine.
Mendes da Silva played seven times for the Netherlands (Getty Images)As reported by NL Times, the court will now try to confiscate the money Mendes da Silva earned from the illegal activity. The Public Prosecution Service wanted to see him handed a 10-year prison service, but he will serve seven years instead.
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The court heard that Mendes da Silva offered the bribed worker €100,000 (£86,000), while he received €50,000 (£43,000) as the middle man. The drugs were discovered and seized by customs.
Mendes da Silva's lawyer has previously admitted that his client made mistakes and participated in drug trafficking. "But certainly not to the extent alleged by the prosecution," stressed the lawyer, as quoted by the NL Times.
Mendes da Silva graduated from Sparta Rotterdam's academy and made more than 100 league appearances before joining fellow Dutch side NAC Breda in 2004. He joined AZ two years later, where he played another 109 Eredivisie games.
The defensive midfielder moved to Austrian side Red Bull Salzburg in 2010 and later played for Greek giants Panathinaikos before a second spell with Sparta. He experienced a spell as Panathinaikos' assistant manager between 2015 and 2016.
Mendes da Silva won the Eredivisie title and Dutch Super Cup with AZ, the Austrian Bundesliga title and Austrian Cup with Salzburg, and the Greek Cup with Panathinaikos. He never played for the Netherlands at a major international tournament.