A Guardian investigation published this week alleges that Jos Leijdekkers, a Dutch fugitive described as Europe’s most wanted cocaine trafficker, has built a vast trafficking network inside Sierra Leone with alleged links to senior officials, and that he is married to President Julius Maada Bio’s daughter, Agnes Bio.

The report, by Guardian reporter Mark Townsend, is based on what the paper describes as dozens of interviews with intelligence and police officers across two continents. It alleges that Leijdekkers’ network has been linked to abductions and killings in Freetown, including the disappearance of several people in October 2025, and to the record seizure of roughly 30–45 tonnes of cocaine from the cargo ship Arconian by Spanish authorities in May. The investigation also alleges ties between members of Leijdekkers’ network and senior figures at Freetown’s Queen Elizabeth II Quay port.

Sierra Leonean and port officials named in the report, including Yankuba Bio, have denied any connection to Leijdekkers. The President’s office did not comment to the Guardian, and the report states there is no suggestion the president himself is implicated in any illegal activity linked to Leijdekkers.

Read the full investigation at The Guardian.