Prosecutors aim to seize record €221M in criminal assets from drug lord Bolle Jos
The Dutch Public Prosecution Service (OM) is seeking to confiscate more than 221 million euros in criminal assets from convicted drug trafficker Jos Leijdekkers, known as "Bolle Jos." The amount represents a record sum for a criminal confiscation case in the Netherlands, RTL reports.
According to OM, the demand is largely based on Leijdekkers’ alleged investments in fourteen cocaine shipments totaling 14,000 kilograms within the span of a year. The calculated costs of these operations amount to more than 114 million euros. OM stated that the scale of the cocaine trade demonstrates that it is "big business involving exorbitant sums."
Prosecutors also cited additional lavish expenditures to support their claim. In less than six months, Leijdekkers reportedly spent 47 million euros on 975 kilograms of gold and acquired real estate in Dubai and Turkey. He also allegedly purchased multiple luxury items, including two Bentleys, designer bags, jewelry, and high-end watches, many of which he allegedly gave as gifts to family members. Encrypted chat messages reportedly played a key role in gathering this evidence.
The OM emphasized that this asset seizure case is only the beginning. "This is merely a first step in uncovering the full extent of Leijdekkers’ assets," a spokesperson said.
In late January, images surfaced showing Leijdekkers attending a church service in Sierra Leone, where he appeared alongside President Julius Maada Bio. The footage was uncovered by Dutch newspaper AD and investigative platform Follow the Money, which also reported that Leijdekkers may have close ties with the president.
The OM and Dutch police say they are "completely certain" that Leijdekkers had been living in Sierra Leone for at least six months by the time the church video was recorded. According to sources cited by Follow the Money, he was able to move freely in the country and may now hold Sierra Leonean citizenship.
Sierra Leone does not have an extradition treaty with the Netherlands, and the Dutch government has no embassy or diplomatic presence in the West African country. Nevertheless, the Netherlands formally requested his extradition in February. Minister of Justice and Security David van Weel expressed hope for "swift action by the authorities in Sierra Leone."
Police in Sierra Leone have reportedly launched a manhunt for Leijdekkers. According to the country’s Inspector General of Police, William Fayia Sellu, Leijdekkers is believed to be using the alias Omar Sheriff while in hiding.
