By Alpha Amadu Jalloh
Sierra Leone is in crisis. Our nation, once a beacon of hope in post-conflict Africa, is now a haven for international drug cartels. The arrest of a Turkish drug lord, the brother-in-law of Dutch drug kingpin Jos Leijdekkers known in Sierra Leone as Umar Sheriff, allegedly carrying a Sierra Leonean diplomatic passport, has exposed the depths of our descent into lawlessness. This is not just a matter of criminality; it is a national emergency. Our youth are dying, our institutions are compromised, and our sovereignty is under siege.
Jos Leijdekkers, a Dutch national, has been on Europol’s most wanted list for years with convictions in Europe for smuggling over seven tones of cocaine. Operating under the Sierra Leonean name Umar Sheriff, he has managed to live and conduct business in Sierra Leone with apparent impunity. His network is vast, and his family connections run deep, including his first wife from Turkey whose brother is now identified as a Turkish drug lord allegedly operating in Sierra Leone.
What makes this situation explosive is the involvement of Sierra Leonean authorities. The Turkish brother in law of Jos Leijdekkers was reportedly arrested with a Sierra Leonean diplomatic passport. How a foreign criminal obtained such a document raises alarming questions about corruption at the highest levels of government. Officials, particularly within the immigration service, who had connections to Leijdekkers, remain unpunished despite clear evidence of complicity.
Reports indicate that the then head of immigration, Alusine Kanneh, had a close relationship with Leijdekkers. Alleged footage showing Kanneh receiving a birthday gift from the Dutch drug kingpin led to his dismissal yet other implicated officials roam freely. Why? Is there an intentional effort to protect those connected to Leijdekkers and his network? The message this sends to the youth of Sierra Leone is chilling. Connections matter more than the law, and the powerful operate above justice.
Adding to the gravity of the crisis is the alleged personal involvement of the president’s family. Jos Leijdekkers is said to have fathered a child with President Julius Maada Bio’s daughter Agnes Bio in the United States. The president is alleged to have visited them in the hospital, creating the appearance of complicity or at least personal interference. If these allegations are true, it signals a dangerous overlap between the highest political office in Sierra Leone and one of the world’s most notorious criminal networks.
Sierra Leone is alleged to have long served as a transshipment point for drugs traveling from South America to Europe but recent intelligence indicates we are becoming more than a stopover. Sources now suggest that at least seventeen drug lords from Europe South America and the Turkish family connected to Leijdekkers allegedly operate within our borders. The networks they are establishing hint at the country evolving into a manufacturing hub for illicit substances producing drugs for export around the world.
The implications of this shift cannot be overstated. If cartels start controlling territory within Freetown and other key cities, the lives of ordinary Sierra Leoneans will be at risk. Our streets could become battlegrounds where rival cartels fight for dominance and our people become collateral damage.
The consequences for our youth are already evident. Synthetic opioids and cannabinoids are increasingly prevalent leading to overdoses addiction and early deaths. Young people instead of being educated and productive are being exposed to substances that will destroy their futures. Drug addiction is spreading in communities across the country with alarming speed. Children are losing parents to overdoses, teenagers are being recruited into distribution networks and whole neighbourhoods are becoming laboratories for criminal activity.
While our youth face these direct threats a more insidious danger lurks. With officials allegedly complicit in the entry and protection of these criminals there is no guarantee that anyone will stop the escalation. The Turkish brother-in-law of Jos Leijdekkers and others connected to the network are said to be enjoying protection that ordinary citizens could never hope for. This kind of impunity erodes trust in government and security institutions. It tells young people that the system is broken and justice does not apply to everyone equally.
The international community is watching. The Netherlands has sought the extradition of Jos Leijdekkers but Sierra Leone’s lack of a formal extradition treaty complicates matters. Dutch authorities are also seeking to seize hundreds of millions in assets linked to Leijdekkers and his associates including his Turkish brother-in-law. Our failure to cooperate with international law enforcement further tarnishes Sierra Leone’s reputation and signals tolerance for criminality at the highest levels. The world is observing our actions or lack thereof and judging our commitment to law and order.
This is a moment of reckoning for Sierra Leone. The May Day distress call has been sounded and it is urgent that all citizens understand the gravity of the situation. We must hold accountable those who have betrayed the trust of the people. Immigration officials who facilitated the entry of Umar Sheriff and other drug lords must be prosecuted. Government officials who have personal ties to criminals must be investigated. And the president must address the allegations concerning his daughter’s relationship with Jos Leijdekkers and his Turkish brother-in-law. This is not about politics or party loyalty this is about the survival of our nation.
We must also strengthen our institutions to prevent such breaches in the future. This includes reforming our immigration services, enhancing cooperation with international law enforcement, and investing in programmes to combat drug addiction among our youth. We must empower communities with education, healthcare, and opportunities so that young people are not lured into criminal networks. Sierra Leone cannot afford to lose another generation to drugs and violence.
Most importantly, we must restore the moral compass of our nation. We must send a clear message that corruption and criminality will not be tolerated no matter how powerful or influential the perpetrators may be. Leadership is about safeguarding the people not shielding criminals.
Let this be a turning point. Let us rise above the corruption and criminality that have plagued us. Let us build a Sierra Leone that is free from the scourge of drugs and the grip of cartels. The choice is ours. The time to act is now.