FORMER Holland star David Mendes da Silva has been jailed for seven years for his involvement in a cocaine trafficking plot.
Mendes da Silva, 40, was sentenced by a court in Rotterdam for importing two batches of cocaine weighing 74 and 105 kilos.
He was then found guilty of preparing the import of another 1300 kilos of cocaine but was acquitted on suspicion of aiding and abetting the import.
In addition to aiding the importation of drugs, he was found guilty of selling them.
Mendes da Silva was also found to have bribed a shipping employee.
The court heard he paid the worker 100,000 euros (£86,000) – while he received 50,000 euros (£43,000) – to report to the location of the container of drugs.
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He was altogether found guilty on two counts of bribery and the selling and importing of cocaine, having been arrested last August.
During his time as a player, Mendes da Silva played for the likes of Sparta Rotterdam, AZ Alkmaar and RB Salzburg.
He won five trophies including the Eredivisie at AZ and the Greek Cup at Panathinaikos.
The defensive midfielder’s international career in the Holland national team spanned just two years between 2007 and 2009.
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In that time he won seven caps for the Oranje.
Mendes da Silva hung up his playing boots in 2017 after making just nine appearances for Rotterdam after returning to the club.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
