Jos Leijdekkers allegedly hid in Sierra Leone using false identity

Dutch cocaine trafficker Jos Leijdekkers, known as ‘Bolle Jos’ or ‘Chubby Jos’, has reportedly been living in Sierra Leone under the false identity of ‘Omar Sheriff,’ a Turkish investor. An investigation by The Economist suggests Leijdekkers has been operating openly in Freetown since late 2022, even appearing in photographs near Sierra Leonean President Julius Maada Bio.

Leijdekkers, who has been sentenced to 79 years in prison, has allegedly used his wealth to build local goodwill by distributing cash and rice to residents. His ‘Bolle Jos’ network is reportedly linked to several suspects in a cocaine case in Ghana. Sierra Leone is increasingly viewed as a significant transit point for cocaine moving from Latin America to Europe.

While Sierra Leone has reportedly refused to extradite him, Leijdekkers’ influence is reportedly declining. Law enforcement agencies are attempting to exert financial pressure on him as international scrutiny grows, leading to the interception of drug shipments and the loss of key business partners.