EU suspends €18 million Sierra Leone aid over cocaine kingpin extradition refusal

October 1, 2026 at 05:44 PM2 min

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The European Commission suspended €18 million in aid to Sierra Leone over its refusal to arrest and extradite convicted cocaine smuggler Jos Leijdekkers, Dutch Justice Minister David van Weel said on Thursday. The suspension is intended to pressure Sierra Leone to cooperate on the extradition of Leijdekkers, who has been sheltered in the country since at least 2023. Sierra Leone's information minister said the EU's July decision was due to procedural issues, not the Leijdekkers case.

Key Facts

The European Commission suspended €18 million ($20 million) in payments promised to Sierra Leone for this year.
Dutch national Jos Leijdekkers was sentenced in absentia to 24 years in prison in the Netherlands for smuggling more than 7 metric tons of cocaine.
Sierra Leone's information minister Chernor Bah said the EU's July decision was due to procedural issues over an amended financing agreement, not the Leijdekkers case.
Another €22.5 million promised for next year might also be suspended if Sierra Leone continues to refuse cooperation, Van Weel said.

Aid Suspension

The European Commission suspended €18 million ($20 million) in payments promised to Sierra Leone for this year, Dutch Justice Minister David van Weel said on Thursday. The decision is intended to pressure Sierra Leone to arrest and hand over Jos Leijdekkers, a convicted cocaine smuggler and one of Europe's most-wanted fugitives. The Netherlands has demanded his extradition, but Sierra Leone has refused to cooperate. Another €22.5 million promised for next year might also be suspended if the country continues its refusal, Van Weel said.

Sierra Leone Response

Sierra Leone's information minister Chernor Bah said the delayed 2026 EU budget support was due to procedural issues over an amended financing agreement, not talks with the Netherlands or any individual case. Disbursements are now proposed for 2027 and 2028, Bah said in a statement. "Reports presenting the EU's July decision as a new punitive measure related to a particular individual or case therefore do not reflect the reasons formally communicated to the Government," Bah said.

Leijdekkers Convictions

Jos Leijdekkers was sentenced in absentia to 24 years in prison in the Netherlands for smuggling more than 7 metric tons of cocaine. In Belgium he has been sentenced to a total of around 100 years in prison in various cases. Leijdekkers has found refuge and high-level protection in Sierra Leone since at least 2023.