Dutch prosecutors announced a record €2 million ($2.2 million) reward for information leading to the arrest of Jos Leijdekkers, a convicted cocaine trafficker and one of Europe’s most-wanted fugitives.
The 35-year-old Dutchman, nicknamed “Bolle Jos” (Chubby Jos), has been living in Sierra Leone, where he reportedly uses the name Omar Sherrif. Sierra Leone has refused to extradite him, which led the EU to cut some of its aid to the country.
A Dutch court sentenced Leijdekkers in absentia to 24 years for smuggling more than 7 metric tons of cocaine, and a Belgian court gave him 79 years. Authorities estimate he earned tens of millions of euros from trafficking and suspect him of money laundering and involvement in extreme violence. He remains the subject of several ongoing investigations in the Netherlands.
