Dutch authorities offer record €2m bounty for fugitive drug trafficker

Dutch law enforcement has launched an intensified manhunt for Leijdekkers, who was found guilty in absentia of large-scale cocaine trafficking operations. The sizeable reward represents a significant escalation in the search for the fugitive, reflecting the severity of charges against him and his status as a priority target for international drug enforcement agencies.

Intelligence suggests Leijdekkers is currently believed to be located in Sierra Leone, where he is thought to have established himself among criminal networks operating across West Africa. The region has emerged as a key transit hub for narcotics destined for European markets, making it a likely refuge for high-profile trafficking suspects.

The €2 million bounty, described as a record amount by Dutch authorities, is intended to incentivize witnesses, informants, or others with knowledge of Leijdekkers' whereabouts to come forward. The reward underscores the Dutch police's commitment to pursuing major drug trafficking figures who have fled prosecution.

The case highlights ongoing challenges faced by European law enforcement in tracking and extraditing fugitives operating from countries with limited extradition cooperation or weak institutional capacity. International coordination between Dutch authorities and regional partners remains ongoing as the search continues.