A Dutch court on Monday confiscated $112 million in ill-gotten gains from one of Europe’s most notorious d.r.u.g lords, thought to be hiding out in Sierra Leone.
Jos Leijdekkers, popularly known as “Bolle Jos” or “Chubby Jos,” accumulated illicit wealth through gold purchases and cocaine trafficking, but the Rotterdam court excluded unsubstantiated accusations regarding luxury goods.
“With today’s ruling, the court has determined how much money L. (Leijdekkers) earned through criminal activities,” the court judgment said. “The total is nearly 127 million euros, of which he must pay more than 96 million euros to the State.”
Leijdekkers did not attend the hearing and was not represented by a lawyer. The court confirmed that the case was heard in absentia.
At first, prosecutors wanted to seize a record $250 million worth of illegal assets. However, the court determined that they had applied a too expansive legal basis and lowered the sum, imposing more stringent standards and eliminating a number of unsubstantiated claims.
Prosecutors said last month that Leijdekkers had made 114 million euros from 14 cocaine shipments over less than a year.
According to intercepted communications, the 34-year-old also spent 47 million euros on 975 kilograms of gold over less than 6 months.
A Rotterdam court last June sentenced Leijdekkers in absentia to 24 years in prison for ordering a m.u.r.d.e.r and organising cocaine shipments.
The European police agency Europol has placed him on its most-wanted list and is promising more than $225,000 in exchange for information that could result in his arrest.
Authorities in the Netherlands declared in January that they were “absolutely positive” he was hiding in Sierra Leone. Dutch prosecutor Wim de Bruin stated that the fugitive’s return to the Netherlands was of “the highest priority”.
Images apparently showing Leijdekkers in the company of officials as high as President Julius Maada Bio have sparked speculation that the cocaine baron has cosied up to Sierra Leone’s political class — including the president’s daughter.
After Sierra Leone’s first lady, Fatima Bio, shared images and a video of a guy who had a striking resemblance to Leijdekkers during a religious ceremony that President Bio also attended on social media, suspicions that he was in the country grew.
Exiled Sierra Leone opposition figure Mohamed Mansaray has accused Bio and his government of “offering refuge” to the d.r.u.g lord.
According to Mansaray, Leijdekkers has coupled up with the president’s daughter, Agnes Bio, who is seen accompanying the d.r.u.g lord in the images.
Leijdekkers is also suspected of being involved in the d.e.a.t.h and disappearance of Naima Jillal, a lady who vanished in 2019 after she was involved in an automobile a.c.c.i.d.e.n.t in Amsterdam. Leijdekkers “had a key part in Jillal’s disappearance,” according to intercepted messages, the agency claimed.
