A former Premier League star has been thrown behind bars after trying to smuggle drugs.
Ex-Wigan Athletic defender Ronnie Stam has been sentenced to seven years in prison after being found guilty of attempting to smuggle 700kg of cocaine from Chile.
The 39-year-old, part of Wigan’s 2013 FA Cup-winning squad, was ruled to have played a “determining and coordinating” role, staying in contact with the shipment’s owner in Dubai.
The drugs were bound for Rotterdam but were intercepted in Chile, and Stam’s brother was reportedly also involved.
Both men must pay a £25,800 fine, with around £1.47m in criminal proceeds confiscated. The Public Prosecution Service had sought a 13-year sentence, but some allegations could not be proven.
Stam came through Feyenoord’s academy before returning to NAC Breda, later winning the Eredivisie with FC Twente under Steve McClaren in 2010.
He joined Wigan that summer, making 73 appearances and featuring in their FA Cup run, though not in the final.
He went on to play for Standard Liège and NAC Breda before retiring in 2016 due to injuries.
Capped once by the Netherlands, Stam made 358 senior appearances, scoring 10 goals and providing 26 assists.
Nationalworld.com
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