Drug lord has Sierra Leone in his pocket, thanks to corrupt connections

 An X post reports on an AD newspaper article detailing a tense exchange at a summit, where the Netherlands' Prime Minister Dick Schoof urged Maada Bio to extradite Jos "Bolle Jos" Leijdekkers, a fugitive convicted of smuggling over 1,000 kg of cocaine valued at €50 million.

Leijdekkers, a 33-year-old Dutch national wanted since 2023, evaded capture by relocating to Sierra Leone, marrying Bio's daughter Agnes in early 2024, and integrating into the president's inner circle, as evidenced by photos of him at official events alongside family members.

This family connection has complicated bilateral ties, with Dutch officials viewing it as state-sponsored protection for a major European drug trafficker, potentially affecting Sierra Leone's international aid and cooperation amid ongoing scrutiny of Bio's administration.

Prime Minister Dick Schoof has urgently requested the President of Sierra Leone to extradite cocaine dealer "Bolle Jos" Leijdekkers.

This happened on Monday during an international summit.

The meeting was particularly heated because President Julius Maada Bio is also the father-in-law of the Netherlands' most wanted criminal.

A photo of a private conversation between the Sierra Leonean president and the Dutch prime minister surfaced in a press release last week. Bolle Jos was also mentioned during the brief conversation, a spokesperson for Schoof confirmed.

"During that brief meeting, Prime Minister Schoof specifically highlighted the Dutch government's request to extradite Jos Leijdekkers, a criminal convicted in our country," the written response reads. The spokesperson did not elaborate on Bio's response.

The meeting took place on Monday during a summit of the African Union and the European Union.

The meeting focused on relations between the two continents, addressing topics including migration, security, and—yes, of course—combating organized crime.

In light of that last topic, the private exchange between Schoof and President Madaa Bio of Sierra Leone is particularly interesting.

New Lines Magazine and Follow the Money have revealed that cocaine dealer Jos Leijdekkers is in hiding in the West African country.

The Brabant native is also said to be married to the president's daughter. According to an opposition leader in the country, he also had a child with her this fall.

The Netherlands requested the extradition of fugitive drug criminal "Bolle Jos" Leijdekkers from Sierra Leone back in February, but has so far received no response.

Former Minister of Justice Van Weel, to his frustration, was unable to contact his African counterpart earlier this year.

His successor, the outgoing Minister of Justice and Security, Foort van Oosten (VVD), will travel to West Africa to renew attention to the issue.

A conference on drugs and undermining will then be held in Ghana.

Last month, Van Oosten announced that he intends to press Sierra Leone and the surrounding countries during that meeting to extradite Jos Leijdekkers.

"This man belongs behind bars," Van Oosten said at the time. Therefore, he plans to "request very specific attention for this issue as well."

Last year, Bolle Jos was sentenced in the Netherlands to 24 years in prison for a series of drug shipments and ordering a never-executed assassination. He also has to pay the State €96 million for his profits from the cocaine trade. In Belgium, Bolle Jos was also sentenced to a total of 50 years in prison in several major trials.

But there are serious doubts about whether he will actually serve this hefty sentence. There are clear signs that he has Sierra Leone in his pocket thanks to corrupt connections. For example, videos surfaced of "Bolle Jos" handing out gifts to officials in Sierra Leone during a birthday party.