Wanted Dutch drug-smuggler ‘is in Sierra Leone’

Dutch authorities say one of Europe’s most wanted refugees has been in Sierra Leone for six months.

Jos Leijdekkers, 33, was sentenced to 24 years in prison on 25 June last year by the Rotterdam court for smuggling seven tons of cocaine.

Dutch prosecutor Wim de Bruin said the fugitive’s return to the Netherlands was “very important”.

“We are doing everything we can in this matter but we cannot say anything because of the ongoing investigation,” he said.

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

They said he was known by the name Bolle Jos and until recently suspected that he was living in Turkey.

Sierra Leone officials have not commented on the incident.

The Reuters news agency said Mr Leijdekkers was spotted in Sierra Leone in January when the wife of Sierra Leone’s president posted a video on social media showing her praying with her husband.

According to Reuters, Leijdekkers can be seen in the video. The BBC could not confirm the footage.

Dutch police have described Leijdekkers as “one of the most important people involved in the international cocaine trade”.

A reward of $210,000 (£168,000) is being offered for information leading to his arrest. This is said to be the highest ever given to a Dutch refugee.

Leijdekkers has been listed as one of the most wanted fugitives by Europol, the EU’s law enforcement agency.

West Africa is a transit point for cocaine traffickers from Latin America.

On January 17, Sierra Leone has recalled its ambassador from Guinea after seven suitcases of suspected cocaine were found in the consul’s car.

Guinean authorities seized a Sierra Leonean embassy vehicle and detained its occupants for possession of “drugs suspected to be cocaine,” Sierra Leone’s Foreign Affairs Minister Alhaji Musa Timothy Kabba said.

“According to what has happened, the government has urgently called the ambassador of Sierra Leone in Guinea, Mr. Alimamy Bangura, to Freetown to explain everything that happened,” he added.

The ambassador who was returned from the car was not in the car and is not being arrested, the minister said.

“It is not confirmed that the ambassador is involved in this business,” he added.