Europe’s Most Wanted Drug Lord Jos Leijdekkers Tracked to Sierra Leone

The Dutch cocaine trafficker, convicted in absentia, faces extradition challenges due to Sierra Leone’s lack of an agreement with the Netherlands.

Jos Leijdekkers, nicknamed 'Bolle Jos,' has been located in Sierra Leone after years of evading capture by European authorities.
The 33-year-old Dutchman was convicted in absentia for smuggling seven tons of cocaine and ordering a murder, receiving a 24-year prison sentence in the Netherlands.
Belgian courts also sentenced Leijdekkers to 10 years for drug trafficking and assault, and he is linked to operations earning millions through key European ports like Rotterdam and Antwerp.
Extradition is complicated as Sierra Leone lacks an extradition treaty with the Netherlands, and reports suggest Leijdekkers may have obtained Sierra Leonean citizenship.
Footage allegedly shows Leijdekkers with Sierra Leone’s president and his daughter, prompting the government to pledge cooperation with international authorities to address transnational crime.