Jos Leijdekkers was spotted at a function in Freetown hosted by the Agnes Bio Foundation.
Belgian prosecutors have asked a court to sentence Dutch fugitive Jos “Bolle Jos” Leijdekkers to 15 years in prison for masterminding the import of 11.2 tonnes of cocaine hidden inside a container of palm kernel meal shipped from Sierra Leone through Antwerp in October 2023. Leijdekkers is still at large and can be seen in Sierra Leone.
The drugs were discovered following a chaotic confrontation on the quay in which two rival groups attempted to gain access to the same container using stolen terminal access codes. Prosecutors claim the operation was part of a larger network that used compromised personnel, logistics chains, and opaque financial arrangements to move and conceal massive amounts of narcotics.
They claim Leijdekkers orchestrated the shipment and directed others to facilitate its importation and distribution. A competing Rotterdam-based crew, allegedly led by Leijdekkers’ former lieutenant Isaac “Bom” B., had been tracking the shipment with a dozen Apple AirTags placed inside the cocaine packages. During the attempt to retrieve the container, police intercepted members of that crew, averting a potentially violent confrontation, according to authorities.
In total, 22 suspects are being prosecuted in connection with the case; prosecutors have sought prison terms ranging from 10 to 18 years, depending on their alleged roles. The trial is still ongoing as prosecutors present evidence aimed at proving the scope of the conspiracy and linking individuals to specific actions. Defence attorneys are preparing to challenge the allegations as well as the prosecution’s portrayal of the network and its leaders.***
