Dutch Fugitive Wanted for Drug Trafficking Spotted in Sierra Leone, Police Launch Manhunt

February 6, 2025

Authorities in Sierra Leone are searching for Jos Leijdekkers, a Dutch fugitive convicted of drug trafficking, who was recently seen at a religious gathering in the country.

Leijdekkers, sentenced in absentia to 24 years in prison by a Dutch court, was found guilty of orchestrating the transport of seven tons of cocaine and ordering a murder. His presence in Sierra Leone came to light after the country's first lady shared photos and videos from a religious service attended by the president, where a man resembling Leijdekkers was spotted.

Police confirmed the fugitive's identity and launched a nationwide search, but he remains at large. Known as "Omar Sheriff" and "Bolle Jos" ("Chubby Jos"), Leijdekkers is on Europol’s most-wanted list and is considered a key figure in international cocaine trafficking.

Authorities also suspect his involvement in the disappearance and likely murder of Naima Jillal, a woman who vanished in Amsterdam in 2019. Intercepted messages suggest he played a role in her fate, with disturbing images later found on a confiscated phone.

Dutch prosecutors have labeled his capture a top priority, and Europol has offered a €200,000 reward for information leading to his arrest. The case underscores West Africa’s role as a key transit point for drug trafficking from Latin America, with recent seizures highlighting the region's growing connection to the global narcotics trade.