Bolle Jos Leijdekkers, a leading Dutch drug criminal, has been sentenced to 13 years in absentia for orchestrating an attempted theft of 10 tonnes of cocaine. The Antwerp court revealed detailed planning behind the unsuccessful heist, leading to various prison terms for co-defendants. Leijdekkers remains a fugitive in Sierra Leone, where he is believed to have acquired citizenship, complicating extradition attempts.
According to a report by The Brussels Times, the infamous Dutch drug lord Bolle Jos Leijdekkers has been sentenced to another 13 years in absentia by the Antwerp correctional court. This comes as he remains a fugitive, reportedly hiding in Sierra Leone. The sentence is for orchestrating an unsuccessful theft of 10 tonnes of cocaine, a case that highlights his ongoing criminal activities despite previous convictions.
During the trial, the court revealed that the attempted robbery was meticulously planned but ultimately failed. Among the 19 defendants, two were acquitted, whereas seven members of the Dutch commando involved in the plot received 10-year sentences, while others faced varying terms between one year on probation to nine years in prison.
The drug-related seizure of 10 tonnes of cocaine, valued at approximately €250 million, was made by customs in October 2023. Authorities discovered the drugs concealed in a container of soy flour, which was subsequently moved to a customs warehouse for destruction. Bolle Jos’s gang, seeking to reclaim the stolen shipment, failed when armed men arrived at a warehouse that had already been emptied of the drugs.
A timely police intervention led to the arrest of seven armed men near the customs facility, following a tip-off from a victim of the initial threat. Investigative efforts identified Leijdekkers as the mastermind behind the operation, particularly noting his alleged familial connections to the Sierra Leonean presidency. The Public Prosecutor expressed concerns about the potential for violence, remarking that the armed group’s actions could have resulted in catastrophic consequences.
The presiding judge condemned the gang for their disregard for the potential fallout from their assault, emphasizing that the repercussions of any armed conflict could have been horrific. Leijdekkers had already received a 24-year sentence for involvement in previous drug trafficking operations and a murder contract. Despite his lengthy prison sentences, he continues to evade law enforcement for several years.
The sentencing of Bolle Jos Leijdekkers marks another chapter in his extensive criminal career, as he is reported to be residing in Sierra Leone, evading Dutch authorities. The failed drug robbery underscores the violent undertones of his operations and the serious implications of organized crime. With ongoing investigations by Sierra Leonean police, the future of this case remains uncertain, as Leijdekkers’s ties to local governance complicate extradition efforts.
Original Source: www.thesierraleonetelegraph.com
