One of Europe’s most wanted drug fugitives is said to be residing in Sierra Leone; global news outlets including Reuters, Al Jazeera, and Dutch media have reported.
33-Year old Dutch national Jos Leidekkers is said to be spotted in Tihun village, Southern Sierra Leone during a church service being attended by the President of Sierra Leone Brig (Rtd) Julius Maada Bio and his family members.
The Cocaine Kingpin who was sentenced in absentia by a Rotterdam court on June 25, 2024 to 24 years in prison for trafficking over 7 tons of Cocaine was seen on several photos and video footage which surfaced on social media and were verified by international news outlets.
Reports said, the images shown him attending a Mass with the First family in the President’s home village.
One particular photo shown Jos Leidekkers seated near the President’s daughter during the Mass. Rumours have it that, the two may be romantically joined.
Since, Sierra Leone has been facing tough international scrutiny following these latest events as social media is now washed with the issue in question.
However, Jos’s disappearance in Europe; European authorities and Dutch prosecutors have been searching for him across the world; as he is wanted for smuggling one of the largest Cocaine operations in the Netherlands.
The Dutch Prosecutors are saying he has been seeking refuge in Sierra Leone for at least 6 months and his whereabouts is still not known. This has raised serious public concern about the allegations regarding the nature of his stay in the country.
A statement issued on the 26th January 2025 by the government of Sierra Leone has distanced the President from Leidekkers and said it will investigate the issue.
The statement read ‘’during the festive season, the president attended numerous family events and public gatherings, where photographs were taken with many attendees.
The President has no knowledge of the identity and the issues detailed in the reports about the individual in question.’’ It said.
But it continued that ‘’a transparent and thorough investigation is underway to establish all the facts surrounding the allegations including the identity and alleged activities of this said individual in Sierra Leone’’. The Sierra Leone police is ready to collaborate with the Dutch Government, Interpol, and other international law enforcement agencies to ensure full cooperation and accountability’’ the statement further noted .
It could be recaled that few weeks back, the another Cocaine bust issue arose in neighbouring Guinea where at least 7 sealed suitcase of Coacine were allged found in the personal vehicle of the Sierra Leone’s ambassador to Guinea Alimamy Bangura.
In a similar statement, the government of Sierra Leone acknowledged that the Ambassadorial vehicle was caught by the Guinean authorities with substances suspected to be Cocaine, but the Guinea later confirmed it after a test was done on the substances. The Sierra Leone government recalled its ambassador and promised to investigate the issue.
Earler, reports had it that the Ambassdor and his deputy were placed under house arrest by the Guinea authorities and on to this point Ambassador Bangura is reported to be under arrest as the Guinean authorizes have refused to release him. And even after several failed diplomatic attempts to appeal to the Guinea Junta Leader Mamady Dumbuya who is said to have ignored every telephone calls from Sierra Leone.
