Belgian prosecutors seek 15 years for fugitive Dutch drug lord Bolle Jos in a massive cocaine trafficking case tied to Antwerp port.
Belgian prosecutors have requested a 15-year prison sentence for fugitive Dutch drug trafficker Jos Leijdekkers, widely known as “Bolle Jos,” in one of the largest drug trials in the country’s history.
The case is part of the massive “Costa” drug trial, which prosecutors say involved the smuggling of at least 25 tons of cocaine through the Port of Antwerp, with an estimated street value of €3.5 billion.
Leijdekkers is among roughly 50 suspects facing charges in the case. Prosecutors have asked for prison sentences ranging from 15 to 20 years for key organizers, with a combined 451 years of imprisonment requested for all defendants involved in the network.
Authorities say the criminal group treated the Port of Antwerp as a “playground” for drug trafficking, using the major European shipping hub to move large quantities of cocaine into the continent.
Prosecutors also allege that profits from the operation were laundered through gold purchases, luxury watches, and real estate investments in locations including Spain and Dubai.
Leijdekkers did not appear in court during the hearing and remains a fugitive. Authorities believe he is currently living in Sierra Leone, where he has reportedly been seen attending public events.
Despite being on the run, Leijdekkers has already received multiple convictions in Europe, with courts in the Netherlands and Belgium handing down a combined 57 years in prison in absentia related to drug trafficking cases.
Dutch police are offering a €200,000 reward for information leading to his arrest.
Investigators have also linked Leijdekkers to the 2019 disappearance of Naima Jillal, a case that remains unsolved. Authorities say his criminal network was involved in large-scale cocaine smuggling operations as well as violent activities connected to the drug trade.
The trial continues as prosecutors seek to dismantle one of Europe’s most significant cocaine trafficking networks operating through the Antwerp port.
Reports are sourced from official documents, law-enforcement updates, and credible investigations.
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