Dutch authorities announced on Monday, November 2, 2026, a record reward of €2 million ($2.24 million) for information leading to the arrest of Jos Leijdekkers. The 35-year-old, known by the nickname "Bolle Jos" or "Chubby Jos," is wanted for his alleged role as a key figure in international cocaine trafficking. Dutch Justice Minister David van Weel stated the ten-fold increase in the reward was necessary due to the threat Leijdekkers poses to national security, the democratic rule of law, and the international legal order.
The search for Leijdekkers follows legal proceedings against him in Europe. In 2024, a court in Rotterdam sentenced him in absentia to 24 years in prison for smuggling more than seven metric tons of cocaine. Additionally, he has been sentenced to 79 years in prison in Belgium. Dutch authorities estimate Leijdekkers has generated tens of millions of euros from drug trafficking and have accused him of money laundering and involvement in extreme violence.
Law enforcement officials believe Leijdekkers is residing in Sierra Leone under the alias Omar Sherrif. He was pictured at a church service in Tihun, Sierra Leone, in January 2025. While Dutch prosecutors have requested his extradition, Sierra Leonean authorities have refused to cooperate. This lack of cooperation led the European Union to reduce a portion of its aid to the West African nation, which serves as a transit point for cocaine moving from Latin America.
The €2 million reward reflects the priority Dutch and European law enforcement agencies have placed on apprehending Leijdekkers. Because Sierra Leone has refused to extradite Leijdekkers, the EU has already cut an unspecified amount of aid to the country.
For residents of the Netherlands and the broader European Union, the case highlights the scale of the international drug trade. A €2 million reward is an unusually large sum for a fugitive, aimed at disrupting a network that authorities claim has moved over 7,000 kilograms of cocaine into Europe. The Dutch justice minister characterized the individual as a threat to the democratic rule of law.
Leijdekkers is currently listed by Europol, the EU's law enforcement agency, as one of the most-wanted fugitives on the continent. Several other police investigations regarding his activities remain ongoing in the Netherlands. Information provided to prosecutors will be kept secret.