eu most wantedTwo Dutchmen are among the most dangerous and most wanted criminals in Europe. This is apparent from a new investigation list that research organization Europol has launched today. It concerns ‘Bolle Jos’ Leijdekkers (31) and Edwin Wright (63). A Portuguese wanted by Dutch justice has also been put on the list: 63-year-old Paolo dos Santos, leader of a criminal gang.
Europol’s list, the so-called EU Most Wanted, focuses this year specifically on key members of criminal organizations who are fleeing justice. A brand new website contains a total of 93 profiles of serious criminals who are wanted for serious crimes such as murder, human trafficking, armed robbery and terrorism.
“This year’s campaign specifically targets the leaders and key figures of criminal organizations,” explains Europol. “Some of the people on the list are mob bosses who have killed innocent people, drug traffickers, human traffickers, criminals who murder or commit acts of violence for criminal organizations, money launderers and fraudsters.”
Bolle Jos
The list includes two persons wanted by the Dutch judicial authorities. ‘Bolle Jos’ is seen as one of the leading players in the large-scale trade, import and export of cocaine in the Netherlands and Belgium. He is also suspected of involvement in the disappearance and death of Naima Jillal. The woman disappeared in 2019 after getting into a car in Amsterdam. Photos of a woman were found on a telephone that was seized in the Marengo investigation. It is suspected that it is Jillal and that she has probably been tortured and is no longer alive.
Bolle Jos has probably not been in the Netherlands for a long time. Until recently it was suspected that he resides in Turkey. Dutch justice has offered a reward of 75,000 euros for the golden tip that leads to his arrest.
Edwin Wright
The 63-year-old drug trafficker Edwin Wright was part of a criminal gang that smuggled cocaine into the Netherlands by ship between January 2008 and September 2009. He has been convicted and has to go to jail for another 1305 days. There are indications that he is hiding in Sweden. Why he is so dangerous that he should be on this European list, Interpol does not clarify.
Citizen help
According to Europol, criminal organizations, like companies, consist of administrative and executive levels. By taking out criminals in crucial positions, the police forces hope to bring down the entire organization.
EU citizens can lend a helping hand by visiting the website and seeing if they recognize anyone on the most wanted list. “One simple act can be enough to ensure that a dangerous refugee criminal is arrested and prosecuted,” said Catherine De Bolle, director of Europol.
Following the launch of the campaign, the first of a series of murals was unveiled in Brussels. They show a house of cards, an image that refers to the idea that a criminal organization can be shaken if one member, one card, is arrested.
What is Enfast?
The European Network of Fugitive Active Search Teams (Enfast) is the network of teams of national police services within the European Union that specializes in tracking down convicted criminals who have fled. Since the EU Most Wanted campaign and website was first launched in 2016, 335 profiles of wanted criminals have appeared on the site.
120 of them could be arrested in recent years, and in 43 cases the arrest was the direct result of the publication of the profile on the website. Ten wanted persons have been arrested since the last campaign started in December 2021.
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Tags: Europol opens hunt dangerous criminals Europe including Dutchmen
