Minister of Justice David van Weel spoke in Geneva with his counterpart from Sierra Leone about Jos Leijdekkers from Breda, also known as Bolle Jos. According to various media, the convicted drug criminal resides in this African country, enjoys protection from the president, has a relationship with his daughter and has a child with him.
The Netherlands has been trying for more than a year to have him extradited, so far without success. “Time for more urgency. We never give up!”, writes the VVD minister on X.
Van Weel explained by telephone to the ANP that he traveled to Geneva specifically because Sierra Leone Minister of Justice Alpha Sesay was there for the UN Human Rights Council. In a conversation lasting more than an hour, Van Weel said he made it clear that it would harm the international reputation of the African country to accommodate Bolle Jos.
“It was quite intense. If only because it is now the third time we have spoken to each other, but we have had much more text message contact. And I have made it clear that my patience is slowly running out in this process,” the minister reflected. Nevertheless, the conversation ended in ‘good harmony’. They will ‘in any case’ speak to each other again later and keep an ‘open line’.
Bolle Jos has been living in Sierra Leone for some time, where he would work closely with President Maada Bio, among others. He is also said to have a child with President Bio’s daughter.
Decades in prison
The Breda drug boss will still have to serve decades in prison in Europe. For example, Jos Leijdekkers was sentenced in absentia in several cases in Belgium to a total of 57 years in prison. In June 2024, he was sentenced to 24 years in prison in the Netherlands for international cocaine trafficking and ordering a liquidation.
The Netherlands has already asked Sierra Leone several times to extradite the drug boss, but the country repeatedly refuses this request.
During the interview, the minister also mentioned that the Spanish gendarmerie service Guardia Civil recently intercepted 30 tons of cocaine originating from Sierra Leone. The minister seems to hint at the involvement of Bolle Jos. “I don’t need to draw any further conclusions, but they are obvious.”
Just like the last time the two ministers spoke, Sesay pointed out the procedures, according to Van Weel. “The only new thing that emerged from this was that the police investigation has now been completed. That could then be the basis for an arrest request from the Minister of Justice.” Van Weel answers the question expectantly whether he expects anything to actually happen.
In the meantime, the minister is also trying to increase pressure through his international contacts. He does this, for example, in a coalition of eight European countries against organized crime. Van Weel also asked his American counterpart Marco Rubio to pay attention to the extradition when he was previously Minister of Foreign Affairs.
