By Amin Kef (Ranger)
The Government of Sierra Leone has responded to international media reports alleging the presence of convicted Dutch drug trafficker Jos Leijdekkers within its borders. Leijdekkers, 33, is one of Europe’s most wanted fugitives and was sentenced in absentia to 24 years in prison in June 2024 by a Rotterdam court for smuggling over seven tonnes of cocaine.
The Ministry of Information and Civic Education, in a press release on January 26, 2025, outlined the Government’s position and actions in response to the claims.
According to the statement, President Julius Maada Bio, during the festive season, attended numerous public gatherings and family events where photographs and videos were taken with attendees. The Government clarified that the President had no knowledge of the identity of Leijdekkers or his criminal activities as alleged in the reports.
The Government emphasized that it had not received formal communication from any country or institution regarding Leijdekkers’ presence in Sierra Leone. However, it assured the public of a transparent and thorough investigation into the matter.
During a Press Conference hosted by the Ministry of Information and Civic Education on January 28, 2025, at the Miatta Conference Centre, Sierra Leone’s Inspector General of Police (IGP), William Fayia Sellu, reaffirmed Sierra Leone’s status as a member state of Interpol, explaining the use of the i24/7 platform for sharing information on wanted persons, missing documents and stolen works of art.
“As far as this issue is concerned, for the past three to four years, we have not received any red alert related to what is being shared on Social Media regarding the individual in question,” he stated. “No country has contacted us about this individual.”
Drawing on his experience, IGP William Fayia Sellu cited a past case where Liberia sought assistance in apprehending certain individuals. “When I was Director of Crime Services, Liberia reached out to us and I facilitated the process to hand over the individuals to the Liberian authorities,” he said. “However, in this instance, no such communication has been made to the Sierra Leone Police regarding the individual in question.”
He furthered how despite the lack of formal contact, the Sierra Leone Police has initiated an investigation. “We have activated an open-source investigation unit to gather and analyze all available information circulating on Social Media. This will allow us to ascertain the individual’s identity, examine his activities and investigate how he entered the country,” the IGP explained.
IGP William Fayia Sellu assured the public of the Government’s unwavering commitment to pursuing justice and addressing any wrongdoing. “I want to use this medium to assure Sierra Leoneans that the Government remains firmly committed to prosecuting offenders. We will leave no stone unturned during this investigation and will follow the evidence wherever it leads us,” he asserted.
Additionally, he expressed the police force’s readiness to cooperate with international authorities. “We are prepared to collaborate with the Dutch authorities or any other relevant agencies if they decide to reach out,” he concluded.
So far the Government has reiterated its commitment to combating transnational crime, including drug trafficking, arms smuggling and human trafficking and pledged that Sierra Leone would not become a safe haven for organized crime.
It must be recalled that Media reports from outlets like Reuters claimed that Leijdekkers, nicknamed “Bolle Jos,” has been residing in Sierra Leone for at least six months and is allegedly benefiting from high-level protection. Videos and photos verified by Reuters appear to show Leijdekkers attending a church service in Tihun, Sierra Leone, on January 1, 2025, seated two rows behind President Bio.
The images also show Leijdekkers sitting next to a woman identified by sources as Agnes Bio, the President’s daughter, who is rumored to be married to him. Reuters, however, could not independently confirm the relationship and neither Agnes Bio nor Leijdekkers’ Dutch lawyer responded to requests for comment.
Dutch authorities have expressed urgency in apprehending Leijdekkers, whom they describe as a key figure in international cocaine trafficking, a report said. It was alleged that a spokesperson for the Dutch Public Prosecution Service confirmed Leijdekkers’ presence in Sierra Leone for several months, with his extradition being a top priority. From what was also stated, Europol has offered a $210,000 reward for information leading to his arrest, the highest ever offered for a Dutch fugitive.
These reports have drawn attention to Sierra Leone’s role as a potential transit hub for cocaine trafficking from Latin America to Europe. They follow an incident on January 17, where Sierra Leone recalled its ambassador to Guinea after Guinean authorities detained an embassy vehicle carrying suspected cocaine. The Foreign Ministry has denied the ambassador’s involvement in the trafficking but launched an internal investigation.
The Sierra Leonean Government maintains that it will not tolerate criminal activities and will work to uphold its international obligations in combating organized crime. Authorities have promised to provide timely updates as investigations into Leijdekkers’ presence and alleged activities in the country progress.
This situation highlights the challenges West African nations face in addressing transnational crime and reinforces the need for collaboration with international law enforcement agencies to ensure accountability and justice.