One of Europe's most wanted fugitives, Leijdekkers has found refuge and high-level protection in Sierra Leone, according to three sources with direct knowledge of the matter as well as photos and video footage seen by Reuters.

Sierra Leone has said it is investigating the reports and would cooperate if there was an extradition request, even though the Netherlands does not have an extradition treaty with Sierra Leone.

"I hope for swift action from the authorities of Sierra Leone and to find them on our side in this fight against international organized crime," the Dutch Justice Minister David van Weel said in a post on X.

The Sierra Leone Ministry of Information has said the country's police were ready to collaborate with the Dutch government, Interpol and other international law enforcement agencies on the case.

Guy Weski, the lawyer who last represented Leijdekkers in the Netherlands, where he was convicted in absentia, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the extradition request.

On Tuesday, the chief of Sierra Leone police, William Fayia Sellu, said the man who has been described by Reuters and other media as being Leijdekkers was known to authorities in the West African country as "Umar Sheriff."

The police chief said authorities had conducted a series of raids to arrest Sheriff, but had not found him yet. He did not address questions on whether Leijdekkers and Sheriff were the same person.

Reporting by Stephanie Van Den Berg, writing by GV De Clercq, additional reporting by David Gauthier-Villars in Istanbul; editing by Benoit Van Overstraeten and Philippa Fletcher

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