Two weeks after pictures of a young man believed to be a wanted cocaine drugs smuggler, Joseph (Jos, Bolle Jos) Leijdekkers were published on social media, Dutch authorities have in that respect, made it official that they want their man.
In a Tweet (X) shared on Thursday, February 6, 2025, Dutch Minister of Justice, David van Weel stated that Dutch authorities have officially handed over an extradition request for convicted criminal, Jos Leijdekkers.
In the “X” message, van Weel stated, “Today, the Dutch extradition for convicted criminal Jos Leijdekkers was handed over to the authorities of Sierra Leone. I hope for swift action from the authorities of Sierra Leone and to find them on our side in this fight against international organized crime.”
The Dutch Justice Minister called for swift action and for the authorities of Sierra Leone to be on the side of the Dutch authorities in the fight against international organized crime.
According to Wikipedia, Van Weel was sworn in as Minister of Justice and Security on 2 July, 2024, succeeding Dilan Yesilgoz. He is serving on behalf of the Conservative-Liberal People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) (VVD), which he joined in 2018. Van Weel had stated that his priorities will include, to increase society’s resilience in light of increased geopolitical tensions, continue tackling subversive organized crime, and to increase trust in the rule of law.
It must be noted that when news medium Reuters published the story on January 24, 2025 disclosing that they have verified pictures via several facial recognition software taken at Tihun, a small village in the remote southeast of Sierra Leone featuring a white man that was seated next to the President’s daughter, Agnes Bio at a New Year’s Day church ceremony two rows behind the President and a row in front of the Chief Minister, an official press release was issued by Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Information and Civic Education declaring that the President had no knowledge of who the man in the picture was. The Minister was trying to debunk reports that convicted cocaine smuggler Jos Leijdekkers has found refuge and is on high-level protection in Sierra Leone, which international law enforcement officials say is a trans-shipment point for large volumes of Latin American cocaine headed to Europe.
The Mass was held at St Joseph’s Catholic Church in the President’s hometown of Tihun, in southern Sierra Leone.
Reuters said Leijdekkers was sentenced in absentia to 24 years in prison on June 25 by a Rotterdam Court for smuggling more than 7 tonnes of cocaine.
Dutch police have said he was believed to be living in Turkey until recently. A spokesperson for the Dutch Prosecutors’ Office told Reuters in response to questions about his whereabouts that he has been living in Sierra Leone for at least six months. Two of the sources with knowledge of the situation said Leijdekkers had been in Sierra Leone since at least early 2023.
“It is the highest priority of police and prosecutors to get him to the Netherlands to serve his sentence. We are doing everything we can in that regard, “Dutch Prosecutors’ Office Spokesman, Wim de Bruin said, declining further comment.
Reuters reported that three sources said Leijdekkers has high-level protection in Sierra Leone, where they said he frequently spends time. The sources declined to be identified due to the sensitivity of the matter, adding that Sierra Leone’s Information Minister and Government Spokesperson Chernor Bah did not immediately respond to requests for comment sent to him from Reuters via WhatsApp.
In a September 4 update on the wanted notice for him, Dutch police said Leijdekkers was “one of the key players in international cocaine trafficking.” They said the 7,000 kg of confiscated cocaine shipments that were behind his 2024 conviction were likely a fraction of his business.
Citing intercepted communications, Dutch police said that Leijdekkers “has probably been laundering tens of millions of euros and hundreds of kilos of gold that may have been earned from the cocaine trade”.
Over the last two decades, West Africa has become a major transit point for large volumes of cocaine being smuggled from Latin America to Europe, recording a number of large seizures of the drug.
Last year, members of a UK-based crime group were imprisoned for trying to smuggle 1.3 tonnes of cocaine, worth 140 million pounds, into the UK from Sierra Leone. Reuters could not establish if Leijdekkers was involved in the deal.
Dutch prosecutors have offered a 200,000-euro ($210,000) reward for tips that lead to the arrest of Leijdekkers, the highest ever for any Dutch fugitive.
After this disclosure and claim by Reuters the Sierra Leone government, on January 26, 2025, through the office of the Minister of Information stated officially that “The president attended numerous family events and public gatherings, where photographs were taken with many attendees. The president has no knowledge of the identity and the issues detailed in the reports about the individual in question.”
The official government mouthpiece said the government of Sierra Leone had not received any formal communication from any country or institution regarding this Jos Leijdekkers, that a transparent and thorough investigation is underway, and that the Sierra Leone Police is ready to collaborate with the Dutch government, Interpol and others to ensure full cooperation and accountability. It concluded that the government is resolute in ensuring that Sierra Leone does not become a safe haven for any organized crime.
Before the Dutch government officially requesting for the extradition of the man they believe to be Jos Leijdekkers it was discovered that in a 2022 video shot at the popular seaside hotel, restaurant and nightclub Lagoonda at Aberdeen in Freetown, Leijdekkers was alleged of shooting another young man after which the current Chief Immigration officer that was a Member of Parliament then, Alusine Kanneh, was also featured in the video pursuing peace between the protagonists in the Scarlet club melee.
When news reports asking for clarification of the relationship between Kanneh and Leijdekkers, the Chief Immigration Officer published a disclaimer that he has no knowledge of Leijdekkers and that people were trying to smear his reputation.
Meanwhile, the Dutch authorities have made an official request for Sierra Leone to hand over Jos Leijdekkers. However, the Minister of Foreign Affairs had stated that Sierra Leone will only hand over the wanted criminal based on its 1974 extradition law, which states among others that in all cases, extradition shall be granted only in respect of a crime which (due regard being had to differences between the legal systems of the respective countries) corresponds to a crime punishable under the criminal law of Sierra Leone. It must be noted that Sierra Leone does not have an extradition treaty agreement with the Netherlands.
For their side, the Sierra Leone Police has come out disclosing that the man pictured in the New Year’s Day church ceremony that has made headline news around the world is not known as Jos Leijdekkers, but as Umar Sheriff; a development that immediately elicited questions as to who the Umar Sheriff is, where is he from, how and when did he enter Sierra Leone; who welcomed or received him into the country, and for him to hand himself over for his identity to be clarified.
The SLP went on that they do not know when and how Umar Sheriff entered the country, with concerned citizens calling for the police, under whose purview is the OSD, to instruct their VIP protection unit reported to be providing official state protection as a big time investor or business owner to have them deliver Sheriff for questioning.
Since the Dutch authorities are claiming that the guy in the picture is Jos Leijdekkers the onus is on them to prove that he is not Umar Sheriff as the Sierra Leone Police is claiming. Also now that the Dutch want the man that was seen in that start of the year picture at Tihun in the same company as the president, his daughter and chief minister among others, the Sierra Leone Police should also clarify who Umar Sheriff is and when and how he got into the country including his business and other financial activities that should qualify him for his reported VIP protection from state security.
Meanwhile Dutch Minister of Justice David van Weel has stated over X social medium that the Netherlands have officially requested for the extradition of their wanted citizen and convicted drugs smuggler Jos Leijdekkers.
According to NATO, David van Weel was NATO’s Assistant Secretary General for Innovation, Hybrid, and Cyber from November 2020 to July 2024. In this capacity, he was the Secretary General’s primary advisor on maintaining NATO’s innovative edge, and on all issues relating to technological challenges, Cyber defence and Hybrid threats and their far-reaching implications for Alliance security.
The Innovation, Hybrid, and Cyber Division also focuses on emerging security challenge such as risks to energy security, the security impacts of climate change, and securing critical undersea infrastructure. The team also places a strong focus on fostering and protecting emerging and disruptive technologies such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and biotechnology to ensure that the Alliance maintains its technological edge. The division also manages NATO’s Science for Peace and Security Programme, which fosters dialogue and practical cooperation between NATO and partner nations through scientific research, as well as several programmatic funds that focus on technological innovation.
Prior to his tenure at NATO, David van Weel was the Foreign Policy and Defence Advisor to the Prime Minister of The Netherlands (2016 – 2020). This appointment followed a long career at the Netherlands Ministry of Defence, which had culminated in his role as Director for International Affairs and Operations/Policy Director (2014 – 2016), after serving as Chief of Cabinet for the Minister of Defence and the Permanent Secretary from (2012 – 2014). He also worked as a senior policy officer for operations in Afghanistan and Libya, and coordinated policy on NATO, nuclear policy and disarmament, special operations, as well as the preparation of the Dutch defence budget.
David started his career with the Royal Netherlands Navy, where after graduating from the Naval Academy (1994-1999) he served on a number of different frigates, including with the British Royal Navy as an exchange officer. He also worked as a Staff Officer for Middle and Eastern European countries in the Defence Staff and ended his term at the Navy as a Primarily Warfare Officer and Navigation Officer. David van Weel is married and has three daughters.
The whole world is now waiting to see how this situation plays out as it will have a bearing on how the rest of the world views Sierra Leone’s role in aiding and abetting international organized crime.