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| Jos Leijdekkers: Wanted Dutch drug-smuggler 'is in Sierra Leone' | |
| (17 days later) | |
| Dutch police say Leijdekkers is a 'key player' in international cocaine trafficking | Dutch police say Leijdekkers is a 'key player' in international cocaine trafficking |
| Dutch authorities say one of Europe's most-wanted fugitives has been living in Sierra Leone for about six months. | Dutch authorities say one of Europe's most-wanted fugitives has been living in Sierra Leone for about six months. |
| Jos Leijdekkers, 33, was sentenced in absentia to 24 years in prison on 25 June last year by a Rotterdam court for smuggling more than seven tonnes of cocaine. | Jos Leijdekkers, 33, was sentenced in absentia to 24 years in prison on 25 June last year by a Rotterdam court for smuggling more than seven tonnes of cocaine. |
| Dutch prosecutor Wim de Bruin said the fugitive's return to the Netherlands was of "the highest priority". | Dutch prosecutor Wim de Bruin said the fugitive's return to the Netherlands was of "the highest priority". |
| "We are doing everything we can in that regard but we cannot comment any further because of the ongoing investigation," he said. | "We are doing everything we can in that regard but we cannot comment any further because of the ongoing investigation," he said. |
| A spokesperson for the Dutch Public Prosecution Service (OM) said Leijdekkers has been living in Sierra Leone for about six months. | A spokesperson for the Dutch Public Prosecution Service (OM) said Leijdekkers has been living in Sierra Leone for about six months. |
| They said he is known by the nickname Bolle Jos and that until recently he was suspected to be living in Turkey. | They said he is known by the nickname Bolle Jos and that until recently he was suspected to be living in Turkey. |
| Sierra Leonean authorities have not commented on the claims. | Sierra Leonean authorities have not commented on the claims. |
| Reuters news agency has reported that Leijdekkers was spotted in Sierra Leone in January when the President of Sierra Leone's wife posted a video on social media of a church service she was attending with her husband. | Reuters news agency has reported that Leijdekkers was spotted in Sierra Leone in January when the President of Sierra Leone's wife posted a video on social media of a church service she was attending with her husband. |
| According to Reuters, Leijdekkers can be seen in the video. The BBC has not been able to verify the footage. | According to Reuters, Leijdekkers can be seen in the video. The BBC has not been able to verify the footage. |
| Dutch police have described Leijdekkers as "one of the key players in international cocaine trafficking". | Dutch police have described Leijdekkers as "one of the key players in international cocaine trafficking". |
| A $210,000 (£168,000) reward is being offered for tip-offs that lead to his arrest. This is reportedly the highest amount ever offered for a Dutch fugitive. | A $210,000 (£168,000) reward is being offered for tip-offs that lead to his arrest. This is reportedly the highest amount ever offered for a Dutch fugitive. |
| Leijdekkers is listed as one of the most-wanted fugitives by Europol, the EU's law enforcement agency. | Leijdekkers is listed as one of the most-wanted fugitives by Europol, the EU's law enforcement agency. |
| West Africa is a major transit point for the trafficking of cocaine from Latin America. | West Africa is a major transit point for the trafficking of cocaine from Latin America. |
| On 17 January, Sierra Leone recalled its ambassador from neighbouring Guinea after seven suitcases containing suspected cocaine were found in an embassy vehicle. | On 17 January, Sierra Leone recalled its ambassador from neighbouring Guinea after seven suitcases containing suspected cocaine were found in an embassy vehicle. |
| Guinean authorities impounded a vehicle belonging to Sierra Leone's embassy and detained its occupants on suspicion of possessing "substances suspected to be cocaine", Sierra Leone's Foreign Minister Alhaji Musa Timothy Kabba said. | Guinean authorities impounded a vehicle belonging to Sierra Leone's embassy and detained its occupants on suspicion of possessing "substances suspected to be cocaine", Sierra Leone's Foreign Minister Alhaji Musa Timothy Kabba said. |
| "In light of this serious development, the government has urgently recalled Sierra Leone's ambassador to Guinea, Ambassador Mr Alimamy Bangura, to Freetown to provide a full account of the incident," he added. | "In light of this serious development, the government has urgently recalled Sierra Leone's ambassador to Guinea, Ambassador Mr Alimamy Bangura, to Freetown to provide a full account of the incident," he added. |
| The recalled envoy was not in the car and is not under arrest, the minister said. | The recalled envoy was not in the car and is not under arrest, the minister said. |
| "It has not been proven that the ambassador is involved in this trafficking," he added. | "It has not been proven that the ambassador is involved in this trafficking," he added. |
| Additional reporting by Wycliffe Muia | Additional reporting by Wycliffe Muia |
| You may also be interested in: | You may also be interested in: |
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| Ten ways to spot a cannabis farm being grown | Ten ways to spot a cannabis farm being grown |
| Inside the UK's first legal drug consumption room | Inside the UK's first legal drug consumption room |
| Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent. | |
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