Former footballer Koke is again involved in a dark affair. The ex-attacker, who notably passed through Olympique de Marseille (2004-06), is in the sights of justice. Real name Sergio Contreras Pardo, the 39-year-old Spaniard is suspected of having led a drug trafficking network sent to several European countries, reports the Spanish agency EFE.
According to the prosecution, the footballer would have played a key role in this network, since he was in charge of operations and gave instructions on the quantities of drugs to buy, at what price, where to take them and what type of vehicle to hire for transport them. The investigation led to the discovery of a large number of telephone conversations during which the main defendant exchanged information with other members of the organization on how to manage some of the large shipments they received.
His girlfriend and brother also involved
Koke will be tried this Monday before the Provincial Court of Malaga, a trial that will involve 17 defendants linked to this organization, including his partner and his brother. The former player had already been arrested during an anti-drug trafficking operation in November 2019. He then spent a year and eight months in prison, before paying a bail of 15,000 euros to be released. This time he faces a 16-year prison sentence and a fine of up to 15 million euros.
His accomplices, accused of crimes against public health and possession of weapons, are liable to around four years in prison. Born and trained in Malaga, Koke was bought by OM for 700,000 euros in Malaga in 2004. In a season and a half at the Canebière, the Spaniard played 32 Ligue 1 matches and scored 6 goals.