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Dutch Justice Minister David van Weel has confirmed that He has reached out to the extradition of Jos Leijdekkers, a convicted European drug kingpin, believed to be residing in Sierra Leone.
Minister van Weel revealed he held a phone conversation with Sierra Leone’s Justice Minister, Alpha Sesay, regarding the extradition request. “Our meeting was about the fight against international drug crime. An important topic was the Dutch extradition request for Jos Leijdekkers,” van Weel stated on social media.
“There are strong indications that he is currently in Sierra Leone.” Weel wrote.
Leijdekkers, 33, was sentenced in absentia to 24 years in prison in Rotterdam for smuggling over seven tonnes of cocaine. He is one of Europe’s most-wanted fugitives.
Reports surfaced in January alleging that Leijdekkers had been living in Sierra Leone for approximately six months, with claims that President Julius Maada Bio was aware of his presence. Further allegations suggest a relationship between Leijdekkers and President Bio’s daughter, raising questions about potential involvement in harboring the convicted drug trafficker.
Sierra Leone previously stated it would cooperate with an extradition request, despite the absence of a formal extradition treaty with the Netherlands. However, Sierra Leone’s Inspector General of Police (IGP) William Fayia Sellu claimed the individual in question was identified as “Umar Sheriff,” not Jos Leijdekkers. The IGP also admitted there were no formal entry records for “Umar Sheriff” and that police raids to apprehend him were unsuccessful.
Dutch authorities maintain they are seeking Jos Leijdekkers. Minister van Weel emphasized the importance of international cooperation in combating transnational organized crime, stating, “Criminals should not be given free rein anywhere.”
The situation has also led to the arrest of Dutch journalist Sophie van Leeuwen, who was investigating Leijdekkers’s alleged presence in Sierra Leone.
Sierra Leone is in the spotlight because a big-time Dutch drug trafficker, Jos Leijdekkers, is reportedly hiding in the country. This is bad news for our nation’s reputation, especially since he was convicted for smuggling over seven tonnes of cocaine. Now, the Dutch government wants him extradited, but there’s no formal extradition treaty between us.
To protect Sierra Leone’s image, our government needs to be open and transparent. They should keep the public and the international community informed about what actions they’re taking. Working closely with Dutch authorities and showing a willingness to cooperate in extraditing Leijdekkers would prove that we take justice seriously.
At the same time, if there are claims that officials are linked to this man, they must be properly investigated, without bias. Strengthening our laws, tackling corruption, and improving law enforcement will prevent cases like this in the future.
The government also needs to take control of the narrative by engaging with both local and international media to ensure the truth is told. If we handle this issue properly, it will show the world that Sierra Leone is committed to the rule of law and not a safe haven for criminals.
This is spot on from you.
God bless you Hassan you indeed a true sierra leonean.