The European Commission has halted financial aid to Sierra Leone over its failure to arrest and extradite Joseph Leijdekkers, popularly known as Bolle Jos, a fugitive cocaine kingpin who reportedly has ties with President Julius Maada Bio.
Last year, a photo of Bolle Jos attending a New Year’s Day church service with Sierra Leone’s presidential family sparked reactions in local and international media after the country’s first lady posted it.
Dutch Justice Minister David Van Weel disclosed the EU’s decision to suspend funding to Sierra Leone over the country’s refusal to extradite him.
“I am very happy with this step. It is galling that EU money goes to a country that does not want to cooperate with the extradition of someone like Bolle Jos,” Mr Van Weel told De Telegraaf on Thursday.
In addition to the suspension of €18 million in promised payments to Sierra Leone this year, the EU will suspend €22.5 million promised for next year to pressure the West African country to extradite Bolle Jos, who reportedly has a child with the president’s daughter.
Earlier in September, Mr Van Weel said, “We have approached the government; we submitted an extradition request more than a year ago. But that has not yet led to his extradition. For us, it is time to ensure that we accelerate this process.”
However, the Sierra Leone government has denied shielding Bolle Jos from extradition, while Mr Bio also denied having ties with the drug kingpin.
Convicted and sentenced to about 80 years in prison for involvement in drug trafficking in the Netherlands and Belgium, Bolle Jos has remained in Sierra Leone since 2023, while moves to get him extradited have failed.