Massive €225m cocaine shipment hidden in plastic waste container from Ghana intercepted in France linked to Dutch drug lord Leijdekkers

On September 7, 2026, French customs authorities intercepted a massive 3.9 metric ton shipment of cocaine aboard a cargo ship en route from Ghana to Antwerp, Belgium. The drugs are believed to be linked to Dutch drug lord Jos Leijdekkers, also known as 'Bolle Jo’s', who is considered Europe's most wanted fugitive. Leijdekkers is reportedly directing his drug trafficking operations from Sierra Leone, though his presence in the country has been denied by government officials.

The drugs were packed into 167 bales and concealed within plastic waste, making their detection a significant achievement for the authorities. The shipment, valued at nearly €225 million, was originally destined for the Port of Antwerp but was intercepted at the Port of Dunkirk in France. This discovery has drawn attention to West Africa's role as a transit point for narcotics heading to Europe, raising concerns about transnational syndicates exploiting the region's ports.

French authorities have launched an immediate investigation into organized drug trafficking, importation, and criminal association, with the case now under the jurisdiction of France's Anti-Narcotics Office (OFAST) and the National Directorate of the Judicial Police (DNPJ). The investigation aims to dismantle the criminal network behind the shipment. OFAST Prosecutor Vanessa Perrée emphasized the aggressive focus of French law enforcement on curbing large-scale maritime drug deliveries into Europe.