Dutch seizes 96mn euros from drug kingpin

SIERRA LEONE: A Dutch court on Monday confiscated 96 million euros ($112 million) in ill-gotten gains from one of Europe’s most notorious drug lords, thought to be hiding out in Sierra Leone.

The Rotterdam court seized the illegal assets amassed by Jos Leijdekkers, also known as “Bolle Jos” or “Chubby Jos”, from cocaine trafficking and gold purchases — but left out unproven claims about luxury goods.

“With today’s ruling, the court has determined how much money L. (Leijdekkers) earned through criminal activities,” the court judgment said.

“The total is nearly 127 million euros, of which he must pay more than 96 million euros to the State.”

Leijdekkers did not attend the hearing and was not represented by a lawyer. The court confirmed that the case was heard in absentia.

Prosecutors had initially sought a record 221 million euros in criminal asset seizures. But the court ruled that they had used too broad a legal basis and reduced the amount, applying stricter criteria and excluding several unproven claims.

Who was the first pirate?

Prosecutors said last month that Leijdekkers had made 114 million euros from 14 cocaine shipments over less than a year.

According to intercepted communications, the 34-year-old also spent 47 million euros on 975 kilograms of gold over less than six months.

A Rotterdam court last June sentenced Leijdekkers in absentia to 24 years in prison for ordering a murder and organising cocaine shipments.

He is on Europol’s most-wanted list, with the European police body offering a 200,000-euro reward for information leading to his arrest.

In January, Dutch authorities said they were “absolutely certain” he was hiding out in Sierra Leone.

Images apparently showing Leijdekkers in the company of officials as high as President Julius Maada Bio have sparked speculation that the cocaine baron has cosied up to Sierra Leone’s political class — including the president’s daughter.

Suspicions he was in Sierra Leone arose after the country’s First Lady Fatima Bio posted pictures and a video on social media that showed a man strongly resembling Leijdekkers at a religious service, also attended by President Bio.

Exiled Sierra Leone opposition figure Mohamed Mansaray has accused Bio and his government of “offering refuge” to the drug lord.

According to Mansaray, Leijdekkers has coupled up with the president’s daughter Agnes Bio, who is seen accompanying the drug lord in the images.