The Netherlands government is reportedly intensifying diplomatic efforts aimed at putting pressure on the Julius Maada Bio-led government to release the convicted Dutch drug lord Johannes Leijdekkers, also known as Bello Jos, to serve prison terms for large-scale cocaine trafficking and ordering a murder, diplomatic sources have said. This move follows an extradition request earlier submitted to the Sierra Leone government, which Dutch authorities say has been ignored.
Leijdekkers is on Europol’s top list of wanted criminals with a €200,000 bounty on his head. The Dutch authorities say he has been taking refuge in Sierra Leone under high-level government protection and was reportedly married to the president’s daughter. Evidence cited includes images of Leijdekkers attending a New Year’s church service in Tihun, seated about two pews behind the president, and a video showing him at a farm alongside President Bio during a symbolic harvest.
The Sierra Leone government spokesman, however, denies these claims.
According to the Sierra Leone Police, there is no immigration record that Johannes Leijdekkers entered the country. They instead claimed it’s a case of mistaken identity of a certain Omar Sheriff.
Many people are now worried about the potential diplomatic strain that could arise out of this situation and its consequences for Sierra Leone’s relationships with its international partners and the West, particularly those committed to fighting transnational organised crimes such as drug trafficking.
Some pundits have expressed their thoughts on this matter, saying that harboring a known criminal figure could lead to diplomatic backlash, including potential sanctions, travel restrictions for government officials, and a reduction in foreign aid. Countries committed to combating transnational crime, they say, may view Sierra Leone’s actions as undermining their efforts, and it could lead to isolation of the country on the international stage, with severe impact for its economic and political relations.