Jos Leijdekkers is now the subject of a €2 million reward from Dutch authorities, who are seeking information that could lead to the arrest of the convicted fugitive.
The Netherlands Public Prosecution Service announced the tenfold increase on Monday, November 2, 2026, saying the arrest of Leijdekkers remains a top priority for prosecutors and police.
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Why the reward for Jos Leijdekkers was increased
Dutch authorities previously offered €200,000 for information leading to Leijdekkers’ capture.
The Justice Ministry has now approved a €2 million payment for the person whose information directly makes an arrest possible.
Officials said the reward could apply to information about his travel movements or temporary presence outside Sierra Leone, where authorities have said they believe the 35-year-old fugitive has been living since at least mid-2024.
The reward is intended for a decisive tip, rather than general information.
Dutch police said tipsters can contact a specially designated team and provide information in any language or format.
Police also said the identity of a tipster and the information provided will be kept strictly confidential and will not be shared with other police teams or Sierra Leonean authorities, according to the official announcement.
What Jos Leijdekkers was convicted of
Leijdekkers, who is also known in Sierra Leone as Omar Sheriff and in the Netherlands by the nickname “Bolle Jos,” was sentenced in absentia by the Rotterdam District Court on June 25, 2024.
The Dutch court imposed a 24-year prison sentence over six cocaine shipments totalling nearly 7,000 kilograms, an armed robbery in Finland and commissioning a killing, according to the Public Prosecution Service.
The court ordered his immediate imprisonment, but he was not present to begin serving the sentence.
Dutch authorities say he is also wanted in connection with other investigations.
Belgium has separately sentenced Leijdekkers to 79 years in prison, bringing the combined sentences reported by Dutch authorities to more than a century.
Authorities link fugitive to wider organized-crime investigations
Dutch prosecutors describe Leijdekkers as a key figure in international cocaine trafficking.
The Rotterdam judgment estimated that he earned at least tens of millions of euros through the trade.
Investigators also say intercepted Sky-ECC messages pointed to suspected money laundering involving tens of millions of euros and hundreds of kilograms of gold.
Authorities believe the assets may have originated from cocaine trafficking.
Leijdekkers is additionally suspected of involvement in serious violence, including the disappearance and presumed death of Naima Jillal, who vanished in Amsterdam on October 20, 2019.
Those allegations remain part of ongoing investigations and are not the basis of the 2024 Dutch conviction described above.
What happens next
The National Investigations and Special Operations unit is leading the search with other Dutch services and international partners.
The National Public Prosecutor’s Office is supervising the investigation.
The immediate objective is to locate and arrest Leijdekkers so he can begin serving his Dutch sentence and face the legal consequences of the other cases connected to him.
Dutch authorities have not announced that Leijdekkers has been arrested or that his precise location in Sierra Leone has been confirmed.
The €2 million offer is therefore an active request for information, not a report of a new arrest operation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Jos Leijdekkers?
Jos Leijdekkers is a Dutch fugitive whom authorities describe as a major figure in international cocaine trafficking. He is also known as Bolle Jos and Omar Sheriff.
Why is the Netherlands offering €2 million?
The reward is for a decisive tip that leads to Leijdekkers’ arrest. Dutch authorities increased the previous €200,000 reward tenfold.
Where do authorities believe Jos Leijdekkers is?
Dutch authorities have said they believe he has been living in Sierra Leone since mid-2024, but they have not announced a confirmed precise location.
What sentence did Jos Leijdekkers receive in the Netherlands?
A Rotterdam court sentenced him in absentia to 24 years in prison on June 25, 2024, over cocaine trafficking, an armed robbery and commissioning a killing.
How can information about Leijdekkers be provided?
Dutch police said information can be submitted to a specially designated team by email or telephone, in any language, with the tipster’s identity treated as confidential.
Fact-Checked: Key facts were checked against announcements from the Netherlands Public Prosecution Service and Dutch National Police published on November 2, 2026.
Disclaimer: Allegations connected to ongoing investigations are presented as claims by Dutch authorities and should not be treated as additional convictions.