paroolSep 14, 2026, 12:57

Key associate of ‘Bolle Jos’ arrested in Ghana following series of cocaine seizures

Three individuals, including Amsterdam native Desmond C., were arrested in Ghana for facilitating the criminal network of drug trafficker Jos Leijdekkers. The arrests come after French authorities intercepted a massive shipment of 3,900 kilograms of cocaine, highlighting ongoing international efforts to dismantle smuggling routes from West Africa to Europe.

The Ghanaian Narcotics Control Commission has arrested three individuals suspected of facilitating the criminal network of Jos Leijdekkers, also known as Bolle Jos. Among those apprehended is 34-year-old Amsterdam native Desmond C., who is considered a critical associate of Leijdekkers. These arrests follow significant cocaine seizures in France and Belgium, including a 3,900-kilogram shipment intercepted in the French port of Dunkirk, which originated from West Africa. Sources indicate the group utilized these smuggling routes to transport narcotics from South America to Europe.

Desmond C. and Leijdekkers have been linked by police for a decade, having previously spent time in the same prison system for unrelated convictions. The Dutch government has been working closely with Ghanaian authorities to combat international drug trafficking, with Minister of Justice Van Weel recently visiting the region to increase pressure on these criminal networks. This operation highlights the growing cooperation between international law enforcement agencies to disrupt the flow of cocaine through West African hubs into European ports.

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Based on reporting by parool. Translated and condensed by LocalHeadlines.

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