Fugitive 'Bolle Jos' Gets 7 More Years in Belgian Drug Case

Dutch Drug Lord Sentenced in Absentia for Massive Cocaine Smuggling

Dutch drug criminal Jos Leijdekkers, better known as 'Bolle Jos', has been sentenced to seven years in prison by an Antwerp court for his role in importing thousands of kilograms of cocaine through the Belgian port. The verdict was delivered in absentia as Leijdekkers has been on the run for years and is believed to be hiding in Sierra Leone, where he reportedly has a relationship with the president's daughter.

Major Drug Operation Uncovered

The case, known as 'Hippix', involved a sophisticated criminal organization that operated within Antwerp's port terminals 1700 and 1742. According to court documents, the network smuggled at least 5.4 tons of cocaine between November 2019 and March 2021, with five additional attempts to import at least 2 more tons. The operation relied on corrupt port workers who abused their key positions to facilitate the smuggling.

Gianni B., a former window cleaner described as Leijdekkers' right-hand man, received a ten-year sentence for his central role in the operation. 'Gianni B. has never made a single mistake,' Leijdekkers reportedly wrote in intercepted chat messages, according to Het Laatste Nieuws.

Accumulating Prison Sentences

This latest conviction brings Leijdekkers' total prison sentences in Belgium to 57 years. In the Netherlands, he was sentenced to 24 years in 2024 for drug smuggling through the ports of Antwerp and Rotterdam, as well as for ordering a murder attempt. The Antwerp court also ordered the forfeiture of €236 million in criminal proceeds from the operation.

Of the 51 defendants in the Belgian case, four were acquitted while the others received combined sentences totaling 119 years in prison and €1.25 million in fines. The investigation began in June 2020 and revealed a complex network that exploited vulnerabilities in port security.

International Manhunt Continues

Leijdekkers has been on Europol's most-wanted list since 2022 and is considered one of Europe's most dangerous fugitives. The Dutch Public Prosecution Service is offering a €200,000 reward for information leading to his arrest. Despite formal extradition requests, Sierra Leone has not cooperated with Dutch authorities.

Opposition politician Mohamed Kamarainba Mansaray has described Leijdekkers as 'a drug baron who is destroying an entire country' and claims the fugitive has built strong relationships with Sierra Leonean officials through bribes and investments. Reports indicate Leijdekkers may have obtained citizenship or permanent residency in Sierra Leone through his relationship with Agnes Bio, daughter of President Julius Maada Bio.

The case highlights ongoing challenges in combating international drug trafficking through European ports and the difficulties in extraditing fugitives who establish political connections in non-cooperative countries.