FREETOWN, Oct 1, 2026 — The Government of Sierra Leone has pushed back against international media reports that the European Union suspended €18 million in budget support over the country’s refusal to extradite Dutch cocaine fugitive Jos Leijdekkers, known as “Bolle Jos.”
The denial came after Dutch Justice Minister David van Weel told De Telegraaf and Reuters on Thursday that the European Commission had frozen this year’s payment to pressure Freetown to hand over Leijdekkers, and could block a further €20.5 million to €22.5 million for 2027.
In a formal clarification issued the same day, the Government said that narrative is inaccurate.
According to the Government, the European Commission communicated its decision in July 2026, well before the latest Dutch claims. The Commission, it said, cited the late timing of Sierra Leone’s request to amend the Financing Agreement and the difficulty in completing all required steps within the 2026 reporting cycle.
As a result, the Commission proposed rescheduling the disbursements. moving the 2026 payment to 2027 and the 2027 payment to 2028, with targets for the 2027 tranche already agreed.
“Reports presenting the EU’s July decision as a new punitive measure related to a particular individual or case therefore do not reflect the reasons formally communicated to the Government,” the statement said.
“EU representatives subsequently made clear that the July decision was not taken because of discussions concerning any particular individual.”
The Government acknowledged the postponement is a setback for budget planning, but said it does not amount to a suspension of the broader partnership with the EU, which totals €325 million in grants for 2021-2027 under the Multiannual Indicative Programme.
Background to the Row
The controversy centres on Jos Leijdekkers, 34, from Breda in the Netherlands, one of Europe’s most-wanted drug traffickers.
Leijdekkers was sentenced in absentia to 24 years in prison by a Rotterdam court in June 2024 for smuggling more than seven tonnes of cocaine and ordering a murder. In Belgium, he faces cumulative sentences of up to 80-100 years in related cases. Dutch authorities say he has been living in Sierra Leone since at least 2023.
The Dutch government has been pressing for his extradition for months, with Minister Van Weel previously arguing that Leijdekkers’ alleged criminal fortune could corrupt the country.
Freetown has not confirmed his presence and says all judicial cooperation requests are handled according to Sierra Leonean law.
The European Commission has not yet published an official statement confirming a new aid suspension, and its July correspondence seen by the Government makes no reference to the Leijdekkers case.
Govt Warns Against Leverage
Reaffirming its position, the Government said Sierra Leone remains committed to cooperation against transnational organised crime and to judicial cooperation with all partners, in line with national laws and due process.
It cautioned, however, against linking development assistance to individual cases.
“Matters concerning judicial cooperation should be addressed through lawful processes, mutual respect and sustained engagement between competent authorities,” the statement said, adding that attempts to use development cooperation as leverage should be avoided.
The Government said it remains confident in its partnership with the European Union and looks forward to continued engagement ahead of the 2027 disbursement.
