The European Commission has suspended €18 million in financial aid promised to Sierra Leone this year after the country refused to arrest and hand over Dutch national Jos Leijdekkers. Dutch Justice Minister David van Weel said the measure is intended to pressure Sierra Leone to act against Leijdekkers, a convicted cocaine smuggler and one of Europe’s most-wanted fugitives who has found refuge and high-level protection in the West African country since at least 2023. The Netherlands has sought his extradition (formal transfer to face justice), but Sierra Leone has so far refused to cooperate. Another €22.5 million promised for next year might also be suspended if that refusal continues. Leijdekkers was sentenced in absentia (without being present in court) to 24 years in prison in the Netherlands for smuggling more than 7 metric tons of cocaine. In Belgium, he has received combined sentences of around 100 years in various cases. The European Commission and Sierra Leone’s government did not immediately respond to requests for comment.