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Dutch police are investigating possible links between a deadly gang attack in the village of Overasselt and fugitive cocaine trafficker Jos Leijdekkers, known as Bolle Jos.
Thirty-four people have been arrested after dozens of masked men armed with automatic weapons and pistols attacked a house on Ewijkseweg in the early hours of Tuesday.
A 51-year-old security guard, who had been hired after the property was targeted in an earlier shooting, was killed. Two police officers who responded to the attack were also seriously injured.
Police have described the incident as part of a wider criminal conflict connected to narcotics. Dutch media reports have linked the violence to Leijdekkers, although authorities have not said he personally ordered or participated in the attack.
Leijdekkers is one of Europe’s most wanted criminals and was sentenced in absentia for large-scale cocaine trafficking in the Netherlands.
His reported presence in Sierra Leone became an international controversy in January 2025, after images emerged appearing to show him attending a New Year’s church service in Tihun, Bonthe District, alongside President Julius Maada Bio and other senior officials.
Sierra Leonean authorities initially denied knowing that Leijdekkers was in the country and said they were investigating the reports. President Bio said he did not know the identity of the man in the images.
Dutch authorities later said they had evidence that Leijdekkers had been in Sierra Leone, while the Sierra Leone government maintained that the country would not be allowed to become a safe haven for organised crime.
Last week, the Dutch Judiciary Spokesperson, Maxine Hovenkamp told AYV News that they believe Leijdekkers is still in Sierra Leone. “He is still living in Sierra Leone,” Hovenkamp said.
After the Overasselt attack, police sealed off parts of the village and launched a major operation involving specialist officers, dogs and helicopters. Suspects were reportedly found hiding in nearby fields.
The 34 people arrested include Dutch, Belgian, French and Algerian nationals.
Leijdekkers has denied involvement in the attack through his lawyers, who have described the allegations as unfounded.
The investigation is continuing.
