Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 6, 2025
1 min readLast updated: January 25, 2026
The Netherlands is negotiating with Sierra Leone for the extradition of cocaine kingpin Jos Leijdekkers, who is wanted for serious crimes.
AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Dutch Justice Minister David van Weel said on Thursday that he spoke over the phone with his Sierra Leone counterpart Alpha Sesay about the Dutch extradition request for European cocaine kingpin Jos Leijdekkers.
"He is wanted internationally for serious crimes. And there are strong indications that he is currently in Sierra Leone", Van Weel added in a post on X.
One of Europe's most wanted fugitives, Leijdekkers, has found refuge and high-level protection in Sierra Leone, Reuters reported earlier this year.
Sierra Leone has previously said it is investigating the reports and would cooperate if there was an extradition request, even though the Netherlands does not have an extradition treaty with Sierra Leone.
(Reporting by Charlotte Van Campenhout and Stephanie van den Berg, Editing by Benoit Van Overstraeten and Toby Chopra)
Leijdekkers is one of Europe's most wanted fugitives, currently believed to be in Sierra Leone.
Dutch Justice Minister David van Weel spoke with his Sierra Leone counterpart about the extradition request for Leijdekkers.
No, the Netherlands does not have an extradition treaty with Sierra Leone, but cooperation is possible if a request is made.
Leijdekkers is wanted internationally for serious crimes, including drug trafficking.
Sierra Leone has stated it is investigating the reports and would cooperate if there is an extradition request.
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