Dutch drug smuggler is in Sierra Leone, who is wanted

The Netherlands’ authorities say one of the most sought refugees in Europe lives in Sierra Leone for about six months.

33-year-old Jos Leidecaras was sentenced in absentia to 24 years in prison on June 25 last year by Rotterdam court for smuggling more than seven tons of cocaine.

The Dutch Prosecutor Vim de Bruin said the refugee return to the Netherlands is “the highest priority”.

“We are doing our best in this regard, but we cannot comment on because of the continuing investigation,” he said.

A spokesman for the Netherlands Prosecutor’s Office (OM) said Leijdekkers lived in Sierra Leone for about six months.

They said he was nicknamed Bolle Jos and that until recently he was suspected of living in Turkey.

Sierra Leone authorities did not comment on these statements.

The Reuters news agency reported that Leideckers had been spotted in Sierra Leone in January when Sierra Leone’s wife posted a video of the church service she visited with her husband on social media.

According to Reuters, the video is visible by Leidecars. BBC could not check the frames.

The Dutch police called Leijdekkers “one of the key participants of the international trade in cocaine”.

The 210,000 dollars (168,000 pounds) are offered for the clues that led to his arrest. It is reported that this is the highest amount proposed for the Dutch fugitive.

Europol, the EU Law Enforcement, recognized Leidekers as one of the most searched refugees.

West Africa is the main transit point for cocaine from Latin America.

January 17 Sierra Leone recalled her ambassador from neighboring Guinea After seven suitcases were found in the embassy car, which was allegedly held by cocaine.

Guinea authorities confiscated a car owned by the Sierra Leone Embassy and detained its passengers on suspicion of storage of “cocaine substances,” Foreign Minister Sierra Leone Alhagi Mus Timati Kaba said.

“In the light of this serious developments, the government urgently withdrew the Ambassador Sierra Leone in Guinea Mr Alimami Bangura to Fritna to give a complete report on the incident,” he added.

The ambassador was not in the car and he was not arrested, the minister said.

“The ambassador’s involvement in this trade has not been proven,” he added.