Few Months back, drug traffickers linked to Jos Leijdekkers, were arrested in Qatar carrying Sierra Leonean diplomatic passports.
The arrest was part of an Europol crackdowns to suppress the trade in narcotics anywhere in the world.
Leijdekkers also known as Bolle Jos is Europe’s most wanted Narcotic criminal who is reportedly sheltered in Sierra Leone, resulting into a strained relationship between Sierra Leone and Netherlands.
Several reports have shown that the drug criminal is in a marital relationship with the daughter of President Julius Maada Bio after they were spotted in a church service in a small village in Southern Sierra Leone.
Investigation conducted by Asian authorities in partnership with the United States, proved that the seized Cocaine emanated from Sierra Leone.
As the traffickers are being prosecuted in courts, another batch of three traffickers also linked to Sierra Leone have been arrested Ghanian authorities.
A press release dated 14th September, 2026 put out by the Ghanian drugs control agency indicated that “the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) has arrested three suspects for allegedly representing and facilitating the activities of the Dutch fugitive, Jos Leijdekkers popularly known as Bolle Jos in Ghana.”
The press release further stated that the arrest followed a reported seizure by French customs of a Cocaine shipment allegedly linked to a wider network, and it also confirms NACOC’s resolve that Ghana will not be a safe haven, transit point or operational base for international drug-trafficking organisations.
Ghanian’s drugs control commission will not rest with just a single arrest, as it will continue working with domestic and international law enforcement partners to disrupt the network of people, finances and infrastructure which sustains the drug trade.
The arrest of the drug traffickers came after a tip off was received by the Ghanian security forces and they acted to save the country’s image. The arrest of the traffickers is a feather in the cap of the Ghana authorities that they are not part of the trade in narcotics. However, it is a big blow for Sierra Leone government which has been indicted by several reports that they rely on money from drugs to run the county in the face of funding cut.
Recent reports which pop up at Media platforms indicate that drug ships first leave Sierra Leone’s harbour for Ghana before the long journey to Europe where the Cocaine is distributed to other traffickers for sale.
Although accurate statistics on victims of drugs are yet to be published, Bolle Jos is said to have intoxicated thousands, if not millions of youths, around the world.
The West African country, Ghana became a transit spot for drug trafficking when European authorities placed Sierra Leone on the drug watchlist owing to the country’s linkages to drug trade upon investigation and forensic analysis conducted abroad.
The forensic investigation of the drug traffickers arrested at the Dubai International Airport showed that the Cocaine is cultivated in Sierra Leone.
The drug trade is not only flourishing among men in the streets but also those in core positions of public trust. A senior politician of the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party, Alimamy Bangura was arrested with Cocaine, shocking many Sierra Leoneans.
At the time of his arrest, Bangura was Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to Neighbouring Guinea, and a persona non grata was immediately declared for him to leave the country. He returned to Sierra Leone after he was held in house- arrest for days.
Similarly, neighbouring Liberia also fell victim of the drug suffocation following several visits by senior officials of the Sierra Leone government. Like Guinea, Liberian police force also acted fast by inviting United States Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) for a drug probe.
FBI’s investigation led to the arrest of former Liberia’s Vice President, Jewel Howard Taylor who is standing trial at a high court in Monrovia.
Currently, crucial facts about Sierra Leone’s drug trade are being held by the FBI, but there are secret reports that some highly placed government officials have been implicated for a long time, but only time will tell.
The list of drug suspects will soon be published as earlier indicated by this press as there are reports that FBI operatives are doing undercover investigations in Sierra Leone.
In past years, Sierra Leone is known for only cannabis (marijuana) and some light drugs widely used by the youth, and the large intake of Cocaine was rarely heard.
In recent times however, drugs especially Cocaine and Kush became widely used by a large number of Sierra Leonean youths causing multi-faceted health problems especially mental challenges.
The main question posed to government officials relates to the origin of the drug phenomenon in the country and the responses indicates different perspectives.
Some Sierra Leoneans blame the rapid spread of drugs on the porosity of the country’s borders and illegal crossing points. Such factors, they argue, are responsible for the rapid spread of drugs in the country.
A report published, few years back, by the Internal Affairs Ministry, shows that Sierra Leone has over 100 illegal crossing points used by drug smugglers to peddle drugs into the country.
However, one of the most popular views holds that senior government officials are in the drug trade by harbouring drug lords and turning down extradition requests made by several foreign countries particularly Netherlands.
They point at an array of requests made to Sierra Leone to the Dutch government for the extradition of Bolle Jos to serve his prison terms for several offences of which he has been convicted.
Sierra Leone government, on the other hand, has reportedly rejected such requests arguing that they have no drug lord here.
But, government’s denial turned into another thing when a Dutch Journalist almost discovered Bolle Jos’s hiding place in Sierra Leone said to be heavily guarded by state security forces.
The foreign journalist was arrested and briefly detained before sent back home.
A local media practitioner and newspaper publisher who assisted the foreign journalist, is also on the run as he is chased by government security forces.
Such actions by government, for many Sierra Leoneans, is a clear sign that government has a skeleton in the cupboard.
The drug trade as shown by social researchers in Sierra Leone became rampant owing to funding cut imposed on Sierra Leone after the allegedly rigged June 24, 2023 elections.
Economically viable countries and development partners cut off ties with Sierra Leone as a result of reports sent by local and international election observation missions on the 2023 elections.
All reports indicated that the election was massively rigged through gun attacks at opposition politicians and supporters as well as playing magic with figures by ECSL (Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone). EU reports indicated that the election was riddled with “mathematical inaccuracies” and “statistical inconsistencies” making it a travesty of an election ever seen anywhere in the world.
Actions followed as the election riggers were made to feel the pinch.
The US government was the first to impose a visa/travel ban on government officials to restrain them from entering the United States.
The much-needed and long-awaited MCC (Millenium Challenge Corporation) compact of US$480m alongside other financial assistance was also withheld by US authorities.
The European Union which has been a partner that is key to annual budget financing and the construction of roads and bridges in Sierra Leone also resorted to similar actions.
United Kingdom, Germany France and other countries also stopped their financial assistance to Sierra Leone.
Several international financial institutions especially World Bank and the International Monetary Fund also held back their loans and grants from Sierra Leone, and such actions were taken to ensure that the country is returned to democratic rule by handing over power to the rightful winner.
With a penchant to cling on to power, the SLPP/PAOPA government has shown no sign of laying the foundation for a political transition despite recent promises of a “transfer of power” to the opposition.
Appeals by the international community to implement the tripartite recommendations ahead of 2028 election have been treated with levity by the government in collusion with opposition politicians, a cause for intensifying the aid cut.
With the funding cut still in force, the drug trade allegedly becomes one of the sources of government’s revenue although it comes with a cost.