Sierra Leone is grappling with a shocking revelation: one of Europe’s most notorious drug traffickers, Dutch fugitive Jos Leijdekkers—known as "Bolle Jos"—is operating within the country and has close ties to the president’s family.

Leijdekkers, sentenced in absentia in the Netherlands to 24 years for drug trafficking and violent crimes, was seen attending a New Year’s church service alongside Agnes Bio, daughter of President Julius Maada Bio. Agnes, a diplomat at Sierra Leone’s UN mission, is reportedly in a relationship with him. Her diplomatic status grants her immunity from searches and arrests in the U.S.

A New Hub for the Drug Trade

Once based in Turkey, Leijdekkers appears to have shifted operations to Sierra Leone, allegedly taking control of existing smuggling networks. Reports suggest he has secured protection from local officials through substantial bribes, allowing him to operate with impunity.

A leaked video from a Freetown nightclub in January 2023 first exposed his presence. It shows Leijdekkers, using the alias "Omar Sheriff," involved in an altercation where his bodyguard fired shots, injuring a man. The video also features Sierra Leone’s Chief Immigration Officer, Alusine Kanneh, who later denied any connection to Leijdekkers despite suspicions. Kanneh has also faced scrutiny over multi-million-dollar property purchases in the U.S.

Government Denials Amid Mounting Evidence

The Sierra Leonean government has dismissed reports of Leijdekkers’ influence, stating the president had no knowledge of him. However, additional footage has surfaced, showing Leijdekkers participating in a ceremonial rice harvest alongside President Bio and his daughter.

Dutch authorities, aware of Leijdekkers’ location for months, have expressed urgency in extraditing him, but Sierra Leone has no formal extradition treaty with the Netherlands. Officials maintain that no formal request for his handover has been received.

Sierra Leone’s Growing Role in Drug Trafficking

Sierra Leone has long been a transit point for cocaine shipments from South America to Europe. Recent incidents, including a private jet’s mysterious landing and the seizure of a mini-submarine, hint at the scale of the trade. In one case, 7.7 tonnes of cocaine were discovered in soy shipments from Sierra Leone to Antwerp, while another saw drugs concealed in gari bags bound for the UK.

Authorities continue to downplay the country's role in organized crime, but the increasing number of drug-related incidents—and the presence of a high-profile trafficker with links to the president’s family—suggest a deepening crisis.