Netherlands seeks Ghana's help to disrupt fugitive Jos Leijdekkers' drug network

The Netherlands is seeking assistance from Ghana to disrupt the drug-trafficking network of fugitive Jos Leijdekkers, known as ‘Bolle Jos’. Leijdekkers, who has been sentenced to over 80 years in prison in the Netherlands and Belgium, is believed to be hiding in Sierra Leone, where he reportedly has connections to influential figures, including members of the president’s family.

Dutch Minister of Justice and Security David van Weel is backing efforts to involve Ghanaian authorities to cut off supply routes. Proposed cooperation may include the deployment of Dutch police officers to Ghana. This push follows a September 2026 seizure by French customs of nearly 3.9 tonnes of cocaine, valued at approximately US$260 million, found in a container of recycled plastic waste from Ghana.

In Accra, four Ghanaians, including suspected operative Desmond Koranteng Curiel, have pleaded not guilty to drug conspiracy and exportation charges. While the Netherlands has struggled to secure Leijdekkers’ extradition from Sierra Leone, the European Commission has suspended €18 million in budget support to Sierra Leone as part of increased pressure.