On New Year’s Day, Jos Leijdekkers, a notorious international cocaine trafficker known as ‘Bolle Jos,’ was seen attending Mass with government officials at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Tihun Town, Sogbini Chiefdom, Bonthe District.

The New Year’s mass received a lot of attention because it was attended by President Julius Maada Bio and several high-ranking government officials.

Leijdekkers, 32, was recently sentenced on June 25 by a Rotterdam court for his role in smuggling over 7 tonnes of cocaine, making him one of the Netherlands’ most wanted criminals.

A spokesperson for the Dutch prosecutor’s office confirmed that Leijdekkers has been in Sierra Leone for at least six months, raising questions about his activities and connections.