Former justice minister Ferd Grapperhaus was put under heavy police protection some weeks ago because of serious threats thought to come from organised crime, the Parool has revealed.

The public prosecution office confirmed that security around Grapperhaus has been maximised but would not say where the threats originated.

According to the Parool, a tip off points to ‘’Bolle Jos’ Leijdekkers (31) who is considered a major player in the global cocaine trade and who is currently on the run.

Leijdekkers, who was added to the national and European ‘most wanted’ lists in May 2022 is also suspected of involvement in the disappearance and death of drug trader Naima Jillal in 2019 and large scale money laundering.

The threats to Grapperhaus come at a time when Leijdekker’s alleged partner in crime Flor Bressers is reportedly behind a plan to abduct Belgian justice minister Vincent van Quickenborne. In September last year the alleged would-be perpetrators, four Dutch nationals, were arrested and extradited to Belgium.

Police are currently investigating if there is a connection between both cases. The public prosecution office has put up a reward of €75,000 for the tip that leads to Leijendekker’s arrest.