Credible reports reaching this medium indicate that Europe’s most wanted drug fugitive, Jos Leijdekkers, and members of his alleged criminal network are currently under pressure following the interception of a massive cocaine shipment by Spanish authorities.
Sources close to the matter disclosed that the arrest of a vessel allegedly linked to Leijdekkers’ drug trafficking operations has created confusion and unrest among suspected associates connected to the network, including individuals believed to be operating in Sierra Leone.
According to insider sources who preferred anonymity, players connected to the international drug trade are reportedly in disarray after Spanish law enforcement agencies intercepted the vessel carrying what has now been confirmed as the largest cocaine seizure in Spanish history.
The vessel, identified as the Arconian, was reportedly tracked by Spanish police following intelligence provided by Dutch investigative authorities, who had received information from a criminal informant. The informant allegedly revealed that the ship was heading to Benghazi, Libya, loaded with narcotics.
Spanish maritime police intercepted the vessel off the coast of Dakhla in Western Sahara before escorting it to Gran Canaria for inspection.
Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska described the operation as “one of the most important drug seizures, both nationally and internationally.” Authorities later confirmed that the vessel was carrying approximately 30,215 kilograms of cocaine packed in 1,279 bundles.
Reports further state that the seizure has resulted in millions of dollars in losses for the cartel allegedly connected to Leijdekkers, who sources claim is deeply unhappy over the interception.
Meanwhile, the Government of Sierra Leone, through the Office of National Security (ONS), issued a statement noting that it has not yet received any formal communication from the Spanish Government regarding the matter. However, the agency confirmed that it is monitoring and investigating the information in collaboration with international partners.
Spanish authorities arrested all 23 crew members onboard the vessel, including five Dutch nationals and one Surinamese national. According to reports, several of the suspects were allegedly tasked with guarding the narcotics shipment.
Spanish newspaper El País reported that some armed guards attempted to hide in the bow section of the ship during the police raid. Authorities reportedly recovered three machine guns, two pistols, and a large cache of ammunition onboard.
Investigators say several suspects were already known to law enforcement agencies. One 36-year-old Dutch national onboard had previously been sentenced to seven years imprisonment in 2010 for a shooting incident, while another suspect, aged 22, was arrested in Rotterdam in 2023 in connection with suspected drug retrieval activities.
Because of the unprecedented scale of the seizure, Spanish prosecutors are reportedly pursuing charges relating to public health violations and international drug trafficking.
The operation forms part of a broader international anti-narcotics crackdown coordinated with Europol. Between April 13 and April 26, law enforcement agencies conducted several operations across Spain, leading to 545 arrests and the seizure of over 8,000 kilograms of hashish, nearly 11,000 kilograms of cocaine, and 21 kilograms of marijuana.
Europol stated that the coordinated operations disrupted a major Atlantic Ocean trafficking route used for transporting cocaine into Europe.
