Freetown, Sierra Leone – The Government of Sierra Leone has initiated a comprehensive investigation following media reports alleging that Jos Leijdekkers, a convicted Dutch drug trafficker and one of Europe’s most wanted individuals, has been residing in the country.
These reports include claims that Leijdekkers was photographed attending events alongside President Julius Maada Bio and his family.
In a statement released on Sunday, the government emphasized that during the festive season, President Bio attended numerous family events and public gatherings where photographs were taken with many attendees.
The President “has no knowledge about the identity and the issues detailed in the reports about the individual in question,” the statement read.
The government also noted that it has not received any formal communication from any country or institution regarding Leijdekkers. Nonetheless, a “transparent and thorough investigation is underway to establish all the facts surrounding these allegations, including the identity and alleged activities of this said individual in Sierra Leone.”
The Sierra Leone Police have expressed readiness to collaborate with the Dutch Government, Interpol, and other international law enforcement agencies to ensure full cooperation and accountability.
Videos and photos verified by Reuters from a church mass in Sierra Leone on January 1, 2025, show Leijdekkers, a Dutch national, sitting two rows behind President Bio.
Leijdekkers was sentenced in absentia to 24 years in prison by a Dutch court for smuggling over seven tonnes of cocaine and has reportedly been in Sierra Leone since early 2023.
The government reaffirmed its commitment to combating transnational crime, stating, “We are resolute in ensuring that our country does not become a safe haven for any organized crime.” Authorities have pledged to provide timely updates as the investigation progresses.
They will not be able to lie their way out of this one. We catch dem. Maada Bio’s daughter is involved with an international drug fugitive. Maada Bio has to know his background. This news coming just a week after the embassy in Guinea was implicated in drug dealing. This now illegitimate administration that stole elections has been caught too many times with their hands in the drug cookie jar. They need to pay. The police and the minister of information keep saying they do not have notice of a Jos Leijdekkers being in the country. That is because he has been given a DIPLAMATIC passport, in the name of Omar Sherriff. If they want to play stupid, then let them play stupid and look for that person.