Wants Dutch drugs ‘is in Sierra Leone’

Dutch authorities say one of Europe’s most wanted fugitives has been living in Sierra Leone for about six months.

Jos Leijkekers, 33, was sentenced in absentia to 24 years in prison on June 25 last year by a court in Rotterdam for smuggling more than seven tons of cocaine.

Dutch prosecutor Wim de Bruyn said the fugitive’s return to the Netherlands was of “highest priority”.

“We are doing everything we can in this regard, but cannot comment further due to the ongoing investigation,” he said.

A spokesperson for the Dutch Public Prosecution Service (POP) said Leijdekkers had been living in Sierra Leone for about six months.

He was said to be known by the nickname Bole Jos and until recently was suspected to be living in Turkey.

Sierra Leonean authorities have not commented on the allegations.

Reuters news agency reported that Leijdekers was spotted in Sierra Leone in January when the president of Sierra Leone’s wife posted a video on social media of a church service she attended with her husband.

According to Reuters, Leijdekkers can be seen in the video. The BBC was unable to verify the footage.

Dutch police have described Leijdekers as “one of the key players in international cocaine trafficking”.

A $210,000 (£168,000) reward is being offered for tips leading to his arrest. This is reportedly the highest sum ever offered for a Dutch fugitive.

Leijdekkers is listed as one of the most wanted fugitives by Europol, the EU’s law enforcement agency.

West Africa is a major transit point for cocaine trafficking from Latin America.

On January 17, Sierra Leone has recalled its ambassador from neighboring Guinea Seven suitcases containing suspected cocaine were later found in an embassy vehicle.

Guinean authorities impounded a vehicle belonging to the Sierra Leone embassy and detained its occupants on suspicion of possessing “substances suspected to be cocaine,” Sierra Leone’s Foreign Minister Alhaji Musa Timothy Kaba said.

“In light of this serious development, the government has urgently recalled Sierra Leone’s ambassador to Guinea, Ambassador Mr. Alimami Bangura, to Freetown to provide a full account of the incident,” he added.

The recalled envoy was not in the car and was not arrested, the minister said.

“It has not been proven that the ambassador is involved in this trafficking,” he added.