Bolle Jos for Dummies

The most wanted criminal in the Netherlands is back in the picture. And, it must be said, Sierra Leone has given him a glow up because the nickname ‘Bolle’ may apply to his wallet, but not to his belly. He is said to be in a relationship with the president's daughter and is therefore doing quite well in several respects. Because despite the highest reward ever for finding a criminal, €200,000, the chance that he will serve his sentence here in the Netherlands is negligible.

For everyone who thinks; Bolle Jos, who was that again? A Bolle Jos for Dummies.

Who is Bolle Jos?

Start with the basics. Bolle Jos, whose real name is Jos Leijdekkers, is known as one of the most wanted criminals in the Netherlands. He originally comes from Breda and is said to be around thirty years old. His nickname “Bolle Jos” refers to his physique, a nickname that has now become synonymous with his notorious reputation.

What has he done?

Drug crime: Bolle Jos is linked to large-scale cocaine trafficking, where he is seen as one of the major players in the international drug circuit.
Money laundering: He is also suspected of laundering huge sums of money.
Violent crimes: He is linked to several cases of violence, including serious threats.
Disappearance and murder: There are indications that he may be involved in making people disappear, such as a suspiciously disappeared woman who is linked to him.

Why is he in the news now?

The case surrounding Bolle Jos remains current due to the ongoing manhunt for him. He is on the international wanted list and has even been marked as “most wanted” by Europol. Follow the Money and the Algemeen Dagblad recognized him in a video taken at a church service, and thus the case started rolling again.

Reward

Reward: The police have announced a reward for information leading to his arrest, which may have attracted new witnesses.

Is he linked to other criminals?

Bolle Jos is known as a close ally of the criminal family Taghi, including Ridouan Taghi. However, his network extends further and seems to reach into Latin America, where he presumably has contacts with major drug cartels.

Other interesting facts

Family ties: His family is also mentioned in the investigation; for example, his sister is suspected of being involved in laundering drug money.
Wealth: The money that Jos is said to have earned from his criminal activities is estimated in the millions, making it difficult to catch him: he can hide anywhere.
Pop culture: Bolle Jos has almost become a ‘boogeyman’ in popular speech, causing his name to pop up in rap lyrics and online memes.

How likely is it that he will be extradited to the Netherlands?

Quite small. There is no extradition treaty with Sierra Leone, he apparently has close ties with the president of the country, and there is a poor diplomatic relationship between the Netherlands and Sierra Leone (we also have no embassy there), so Bolle Jos can probably continue his life there comfortably.

Image: Telegraaf