Convicted Dutch cocaine trafficker Jos Leijdekkers, also known as "Bolle Jos", is allegedly using Sierra Leone as a hub for his international cocaine operations. According to Dutch media, billions of dollars in drug money are flowing through the country's economy each year. Leijdekkers is one of Europe's most wanted criminals, convicted of drug trafficking offences in the Netherlands and Belgium.
Leijdekkers reportedly obtained a Sierra Leonean diplomatic passport in return for investments in the country's economy and developed close relationships with political and business elites. The Dutch newspaper NL Times, citing reporting by Dutch broadcaster RTL, said Leijdekkers had turned Sierra Leone into a base for his operations. The allegations have raised concerns about the country's reputation and the influence of organised crime.
Sierra Leone's government has repeatedly denied having any association with Leijdekkers. The Ministry of Information and Civic Education has said authorities were not aware of his presence in the country and that a search had been launched to locate him. However, several international investigations have disputed that explanation, with some reporting that Leijdekkers had become highly influential among sections of the country's political and business elite.
Investigative journalist Alexander Clapp of The Economist reported in September that Leijdekkers had been operating in Sierra Leone under the name Omar Sheriff. There have also been reports linking Leijdekkers to Agnes Bio, the daughter of President Julius Maada Bio. The First Lady, Fatima Maada Bio, has previously denied being aware of Leijdekkers or his alleged links to the family.
The alleged presence of Leijdekkers in Sierra Leone has raised concerns about the country's reputation, the influence of organised crime, and the safety of journalists investigating the case. An investigation by The Economist described Sierra Leone as being at risk of "narco-capture". Other investigations have reported allegations of intimidation of journalists who have sought to report on Leijdekkers and his activities.
The controversy has now developed into a diplomatic dispute between Sierra Leone and European governments. In October, Dutch Justice Minister David van Weel said the European Commission had suspended €18m in financial support to Sierra Leone because of the country's failure to cooperate in efforts to extradite Leijdekkers. However, European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner said the suspension was officially due to technical reasons.
The dispute over Leijdekkers risks having consequences beyond the alleged cocaine trade, potentially damaging Sierra Leone's international reputation, raising concerns about corruption and organised crime, and affecting relations with international partners and access to development funding. The EU had allocated hundreds of millions of euros in support to Sierra Leone for the 2021-2027 period, highlighting the significance of the diplomatic dispute.
Key points
- The European Commission suspended €18m in financial support to Sierra Leone due to the country's failure to cooperate in efforts to extradite Jos Leijdekkers.
- Jos Leijdekkers allegedly obtained a Sierra Leonean diplomatic passport in return for investments in the country's economy.
- The controversy surrounding Leijdekkers has raised concerns about Sierra Leone's reputation, the influence of organised crime, and the safety of journalists investigating the case.
