Dutch Prosecutors Offer 2 Million Euro Bounty for Fugitive 'Chubby Jos'
The reward is ten times the previous amount to locate Leijdekkers, who is hiding in Sierra Leone.
By Madison Lewis ·
Dutch authorities have set a bounty of 2 million euros, or 2.2 million dollars, for information leading to the arrest of Jos Leijdekkers. The sum is the largest reward the nation has ever offered for a fugitive. Prosecutors stated that capturing Leijdekkers is the top priority for the police and the Public Prosecution Service. They increased the previous reward by a factor of ten to accelerate the search.
Leijdekkers, who is 35, is known by the nickname 'Bolle Jos,' which translates to 'Chubby Jos.' He is considered a major figure in the international cocaine trade. In 2024, a court in Rotterdam sentenced him in absentia to 24 years in prison. The sentence covered the trafficking of nearly 7,000 kilograms of cocaine, an armed robbery, and the ordering of a 'liquidation.' A court in Belgium separately sentenced him to 79 years in prison.
Police have tracked the fugitive to Sierra Leone. In January 2025, Dutch authorities announced they were 'absolutely certain' he was hiding in the West African country. Wim de Bruin, a Dutch prosecutor, told the BBC that his return to the Netherlands was of the 'highest priority.' The search intensified after the first lady of Sierra Leone, Fatima Bio, posted images and a video on social media. The media showed a man at a religious service who also included President Julius Maada Bio.
Speculation arose that Leijdekkers built close ties with Sierra Leone's political class. Images appeared to show him with high-ranking officials, including the president's daughter. Europol has also linked Leijdekkers to the disappearance and death of Naima Jillal. Jillal went missing in 2019 after getting into a car in Amsterdam. The agency said intercepted messages indicated Leijdekkers 'played an important role in Jillal's disappearance.'
Europol noted that for a long time, there was no trace of Jillal. Photos of a woman believed to be her were later found on a phone seized during the Marengo investigation. The agency stated that the photos showed she was most likely tortured and is probably no longer alive. Dutch authorities said any information shared with them regarding Leijdekkers will be kept secret.
The next step in the investigation depends on new intelligence from the public. Prosecutors will evaluate tips to confirm his location within Sierra Leone. The 2 million euro reward remains active until his arrest is secured.
