By Sallieu S. Kanu
Justice Ministers of Sierra Leone and Netherlands Deepen Security Cooperation
Freetown/Accra – The Netherlands has intensified diplomatic efforts to secure the arrest and extradition of fugitive drug trafficker Jos Leijdekkers, widely known as Bolle Jos, who is believed to be hiding in Sierra Leone.
Dutch Justice Minister David van Weel confirmed that his government is engaging West African partners, including Ghana, to raise concerns over Leijdekkers’ presence and to encourage regional cooperation. He described Sierra Leone’s outreach as a “positive sign of dialogue,” though no firm commitments have yet been made.
Leijdekkers, regarded as the Netherlands’ most wanted fugitive, has been sentenced to a combined 81 years in prison in the Netherlands and Belgium for drug trafficking, money laundering, and other serious offences. He has also been linked to a major cocaine seizure near the Canary Islands.
Reports indicate that the Netherlands has sought broader international backing, urging the European Union to review aspects of its engagement with Sierra Leone as diplomatic pressure mounts.
Sierra Leone’s Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Alpha Sesay, confirmed the ongoing talks in a statement posted on his Facebook page after meeting Minister van Weel in Accra. “At my request, I met in Accra, Ghana, with the Minister of Justice of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to continue our longstanding discussions on security and judicial cooperation in addressing transnational organised crime,” Sesay wrote.
He stressed that tackling illicit financial flows and transnational crime remains a shared priority. “Our discussions underscored the importance of sustained commitment, continued progress, and strengthened cooperation to safeguard our respective borders and protect our people. Sierra Leone remains firmly committed to playing its part in this collective effort,” Sesay added.
The case continues to attract international attention as Dutch authorities pursue Leijdekkers’ extradition through diplomatic channels, framing it as a test of regional cooperation against organised crime.