The international network connected to Brabant cocaine baron Jos “Bolle Jos” Leijdekkers has suffered yet another major setback. Abdullah Alp Üstün, a Rotterdam-based Turk known as “Don Vito,” was arrested in Dubai two weeks ago and has been extradited to Turkey.
The Turkish Minister of the Interior shared images of the transfer on X, showing Üstün blindfolded and seated in a private jet flanked by masked officers; another man believed to be a key figure in the same organisation, Hassan Lala, also appears on the plane.
Turkish prosecutors allege that Üstün and Lala played key roles in laundering significant proceeds from Leijdekkers’ cocaine operation through Turkey. Rumours of arrests in Dubai had circulated for days. Still, the ministerial photographs and comments provided the first public confirmation that the two suspects had been detained abroad and returned to Turkish custody.
The extradition comes as legal pressure mounts on other members of Leijdekkers’ circle. Leijdekkers’ brother Harry is still imprisoned in Turkey. He could be extradited to the Netherlands at any time to face charges of aiding and abetting the criminal organisation and money laundering. According to Dutch and Turkish sources, Harry helped launder drug proceeds by purchasing assets in Dubai, including gold, for €5 million.
According to reliable sources, extradition efforts have been nearly successful in the past. Two weeks ago, a private jet was reportedly scheduled to pick Harry up in Turkey, but the operation was cancelled at the last minute by Turkish authorities for unknown reasons.
The trial of Leijdekkers’ alleged associates in Istanbul last summer remains a source of controversy. Following an unexpected change in course in July 2024, the proceedings sparked a political and judicial uproar. On July 5, judges at Istanbul’s High Criminal Court reportedly ordered the release of approximately fifteen defendants late into the night, while also stating that they could not leave Turkey. According to Turkish media and prosecutors, those who were released were suspected of money laundering.
The release was reversed within days, but by that time, several of the freed suspects, including Üstün, had already left the country. The reversal sparked an investigation into the judges who had approved the temporary release; all of them were later suspended. According to Turkish press reports, judges were bribed in connection with the releases, with some outlets citing a $720,000 payment linked to Üstün’s temporary freedom. Üstün has denied the allegations of bribery, telling the Turkish newspaper BirGün after his escape that he did not pay judges.
The fallout from that incident fueled a larger manhunt launched in 2023 against the Leijdekkers organisation. The Brabant native reportedly avoided capture, but dozens of associates were apprehended. Authorities say they seized assets totalling approximately €40 million in property, cash, and valuables during searches related to the Turkish investigation. Officials discovered suitcases containing cash, jewellery, and luxury items, including a gold-plated pistol and high-end watches.
According to Turkish reports, one Jacob & Co. timepiece linked to Üstün is encrusted with approximately 600 diamonds and is estimated to be worth $1.6 million. Prosecutors have cited such findings as evidence of widespread money laundering associated with drug trafficking.
The probe’s impact has spread across Europe. According to Turkish and German reports, a German associate named Eric Schroeder was extradited to Germany and began trial last week. According to German authorities, Schroeder ran a significant distribution operation in Hamburg and allegedly sold cocaine blocks stamped with luxury branding, such as LV (for Louis Vuitton) and the French national football team emblem. Prosecutors in Germany have indicated that if convictions are obtained, they will seek stiff penalties.
Meanwhile, Jos Leijdekkers continues to be at large. Earlier reports suggested that he is hiding in Sierra Leone and is romantically involved with the president’s daughter. That connection, as well as Üstün’s reported travel patterns, highlight the alleged criminal network’s global reach. According to Turkish documents obtained by local media, Üstün previously held a Sierra Leonean diplomatic passport, highlighting the cross-border challenges investigators face in dismantling the organisation.
The recent return of Üstün and Lala may provide new evidence and witnesses to strengthen money-laundering and organised crime cases, benefiting prosecutors in Turkey and abroad. At the same time, the saga raises new questions about how alleged corruption in judicial processes allowed senior suspects to go free for several months. Dutch authorities are closely monitoring developments; Harry Leijdekkers’ possible imminent extradition to the Netherlands could result in new proceedings linking his actions to his brother’s larger criminal enterprise.
As investigations continue, law enforcement agencies from various countries appear to be working together to trace and seize assets, build criminal cases, and pursue the network’s remaining nodes. The courtroom battles currently underway in Turkey, Germany, and possibly the Netherlands are likely to reveal more about the scope of the alleged money flows, the methods used to conceal them, and the international connections that have both enabled and hindered efforts to bring alleged perpetrators to justice.
