Netherlands to Seek EU Aid Suspension for Sierra Leone Over Fugitive Extradition

The Dutch government intends to propose suspending European Union development aid to Sierra Leone as a tactic to compel the nation into apprehending and extraditing a high-profile fugitive drug trafficker. Jos Leijdekkers, known as "Bolle Jos," is one of the Netherlands' most wanted individuals.

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It is, of course, absurd that we facilitate or support a country that at the same time offers a safe refuge to one of the biggest drug-related criminals we know worldwide.

Dutch Minister of Justice and Security, David van Weel, announced the initiative, expressing strong criticism of the EU's financial backing for a country he believes is providing a safe haven for a major international drug criminal. "It is, of course, absurd that we facilitate or support a country that at the same time offers a safe refuge to one of the biggest drug-related criminals we know worldwide," the minister stated during an interview on Dutch public television.

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According to our estimates, this man generates hundreds of millions of euros in revenue per month in a country whose gross national product is less than that amount. That completely corrupts a country.

The EU has allocated €352 million in grants to Sierra Leone for the 2021-2027 period and includes the country in various EU-funded regional and international programs. Van Weel emphasized that Leijdekkers' capture is a top priority, arguing that his extradition would also benefit Sierra Leone. "According to our estimates, this man generates hundreds of millions of euros in revenue per month in a country whose gross national product is less than that amount. That completely corrupts a country," he asserted.

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We are working on it, the procedures are underway, and the police report is almost finished.

Leijdekkers has been convicted in Dutch and Belgian courts, facing sentences totaling around 80 years for drug trafficking offenses. Diplomatic efforts to secure his extradition have so far been met with stalled responses from Sierra Leonean authorities. Van Weel indicated that political channels alone have not yielded results and that the strategy now involves leveraging European development cooperation policy to increase pressure. He also linked the situation to a recent record seizure of over 41 tons of cocaine in Spain's Canary Islands, a shipment believed to have originated from Freetown, Sierra Leone, suggesting a high level of complicity within the country for such large-scale operations.

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If you observe the amount of drugs that boat was carrying, it is impossible to believe that there was no cooperation at all levels to carry out an operation of such magnitude.