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The European Union (EU) suspended €18 million ($21 million) in scheduled 2026 financial assistance to Sierra Leone following the country’s refusal to arrest and extradite a prominent Dutch cocaine trafficker, Jos “Bolle Jos” Leijdekkers.
Dutch Justice and Security Minister David van Weel confirmed the funding freeze, warning that Brussels could withhold an additional €22.5 million planned for 2027 if non-cooperation persists.
Convicted in absentia to 24 years in prison by a Rotterdam court for trafficking over seven tonnes of cocaine, Leijdekkers reportedly resides in Sierra Leone under high-level political protection.
Dutch authorities emphasise that his immense financial resources threaten to corrupt local institutions, making his capture an absolute priority.
Sierra Leone directly rejected the assertion that the EU halted the funds as a punitive response to the extradition dispute.
Information Minister Chernor Bah stated that the European Commission formally attributed the delayed 2026 disbursement to procedural and timing adjustments stemming from an amended financing agreement.
According to Freetown, administrative delays prompted an official proposal to reschedule the 2026 and 2027 disbursements into the 2027 and 2028 operational cycles rather than cancelling the aid packages outright.
