Record cocaine seizure off Morocco’s coast, mastermind identified

The cargo ship Arconian departed Freetown on April 22 bound for Benghazi, Libya. Under close surveillance, the vessel was boarded last Friday by Spain’s Civil Guard off the Moroccan coast. Authorities discovered between 30,000 and 45,000 kilos of pure cocaine on board, a shipment valued at over one billion euros. The ship is currently anchored near Gran Canaria, and Dutch nationals were arrested during the operation, according to newspaper De Telegraaf.

On Bladi.net : Record seizure of 10 tons of cocaine: the Canary Islands and the Strait at the heart of the drug trade

Interpol strongly suspects Jos Leijdekkers, nicknamed "Bolle Jos," is linked to this massive shipment. The criminal from Breda is sheltering in Sierra Leone, where he allegedly maintains close ties with President Maada Bio. He reportedly even fathered a child with the president’s daughter. The African nation systematically refuses extradition requests from the Netherlands. The man must nonetheless serve decades in prison across Europe, facing 57 years in Belgium and 24 years in the Netherlands for international trafficking.

On Bladi.net : Cocaine and arms trafficking: a Frenchman targeted by Interpol arrested in Morocco

Parallel to this spectacular seizure, the fugitive’s inner circle faces justice. His parents and sister appear in court this week in Rotterdam on money laundering charges. Arrested in early 2023, they are accused of benefiting from the drug trafficking proceeds. Investigators allege suspicious acquisition of an apartment in Dubai, purchase of two luxury Bentley vehicles, and possession of substantial sums in cash.