One person was killed and two police officers were injured in a shootout in the Netherlands linked to drug kingpin ‘Bolle Jos’.
THE HAGUE: One person was killed and two police officers were injured in the Netherlands Tuesday in a shootout reportedly linked to a notorious drug baron, Dutch police said, adding they had made several arrests.
The violence occurred in the early hours of Tuesday in the eastern Dutch town of Overasselt near the German border, authorities said in a statement.
Security footage published by Dutch daily De Telegraaf showed a large group of masked individuals walking around in the area, some apparently carrying heavy weapons.
According to local media, the shootout was likely connected to the criminal underworld of Dutch drug lord Jos Leijdekkers, also known as “Bolle Jos”.
Leijdekkers is one of the Netherlands’ most wanted criminals and has previously been convicted for his role in international cocaine trafficking. He is believed to be in Sierra Leone and is reportedly in a relationship with President Julius Maada Bio’s daughter.
Police said the injured officers are not in critical condition.
According to local newspaper De Gelderlander, the person killed was a security guard at the home where the shooting took place.
The house had also been the site of another shooting last year, police said.
“What a horrific act of violence in Overasselt,” Justice Minister David van Weel said on X, formerly Twitter.
“We will not tolerate this violence.”
