The Dutch Minister of Justice and Security, David van Weel, has sought the assistance of Ghana in the hunt for notorious Dutch drug trafficker Jos Leijdekkers, alias “Bolle Jos”, who is believed to be living in Sierra Leone.
According to a report by Dutch newspaper, De Telegraaf, the Dutch government hopes to have Leijdekkers in custody within a year.
Leijdekkers, 34, is one of Europe’s most wanted drug traffickers. He was sentenced in absentia in the Netherlands to 24 years in prison for large-scale cocaine trafficking and other offences. The Dutch authorities have for months alleged that he is residing in Sierra Leone, a claim that has generated intense public debate in the country.
The newspaper reports that the Netherlands will provide support to the Ghanaian police, in hopes that authorities in the West African region can help cut off Leijdekkers’ alleged drug supply lines.
The exact nature of the support is still being worked out, but it may involve deploying Dutch police officers to Ghana, _Telegraaf said.
Ghana is seen as a key transit hub in the region, and Dutch officials believe regional cooperation will help restrict his movements.
The report comes as the Netherlands continues to push for Leijdekkers’ extradition.
The Dutch government had reportedly lobbied the European Commission to halt development aid to Sierra Leone over the matter. The Commission, however, maintains that the aid suspension was due to administrative errors and not linked to the Leijdekkers case.
Telegraaf further reports that the Dutch government is expected to announce new measures soon to put additional pressure on Sierra Leone to ensure the alleged trafficker is apprehended.
The measures are said to include enlisting more African countries and working on European-wide actions to cripple his movements and freeze his assets.
“He is still allowed to enter the Netherlands, but only on a once-off basis,” a source told the newspaper, suggesting that any return to the Netherlands would lead to immediate arrest.
The Government of Sierra Leone is yet to issue a fresh response to the latest report. Previously, government officials have said they are investigating the allegations and remain committed to international law enforcement cooperation.
