Jos Leijdekkers: Wished Dutch drug-smuggler ‘is in Sierra Leone’

Dutch authorities say considered one of Europe’s most-wanted fugitives has been residing in Sierra Leone for about six months.

Jos Leijdekkers, 33, was sentenced in absentia to 24 years in jail on 25 June final 12 months by a Rotterdam courtroom for smuggling greater than seven tonnes of cocaine.

Dutch prosecutor Wim de Bruin mentioned the fugitive’s return to the Netherlands was of “the very best precedence”.

“We’re doing every little thing we are able to in that regard however we can’t remark any additional due to the continuing investigation,” he mentioned.

A spokesperson for the Dutch Public Prosecution Service (OM) mentioned Leijdekkers has been residing in Sierra Leone for about six months.

They mentioned he’s identified by the nickname Bolle Jos and that till not too long ago he was suspected to be residing in Turkey.

Sierra Leonean authorities haven’t commented on the claims.

Reuters information company has reported that Leijdekkers was noticed in Sierra Leone in January when the President of Sierra Leone’s spouse posted a video on social media of a church service she was attending together with her husband.

Based on Reuters, Leijdekkers may be seen within the video. The BBC has not been capable of confirm the footage.

Dutch police have described Leijdekkers as “one of many key gamers in worldwide cocaine trafficking”.

A $210,000 (£168,000) reward is being supplied for tip-offs that result in his arrest. That is reportedly the very best quantity ever supplied for a Dutch fugitive.

Leijdekkers is listed as one of many most-wanted fugitives by Europol, the EU’s regulation enforcement company.

West Africa is a serious transit level for the trafficking of cocaine from Latin America.

On 17 January, Sierra Leone recalled its ambassador from neighbouring Guinea after seven suitcases containing suspected cocaine had been present in an embassy car.

Guinean authorities impounded a car belonging to Sierra Leone’s embassy and detained its occupants on suspicion of possessing “substances suspected to be cocaine”, Sierra Leone’s Overseas Minister Alhaji Musa Timothy Kabba mentioned.

“In gentle of this critical growth, the federal government has urgently recalled Sierra Leone’s ambassador to Guinea, Ambassador Mr Alimamy Bangura, to Freetown to supply a full account of the incident,” he added.

The recalled envoy was not within the automobile and isn’t below arrest, the minister mentioned.

“It has not been confirmed that the ambassador is concerned on this trafficking,” he added.