Sophie van Leeuwen, journalist and Africa correspondent for RTL News, was arrested in Sierra Leone on Thursday. Van Leeuwen is in the country to make stories about the Breda drug criminal Jos Leijdekkers, also known as Bolle Jos.

The journalist was arrested on Thursday at a checkpoint near the capital Freetown, RTL Nieuws reports. She is suspected of illegally recording images. Van Leeuwen attended a press conference of the country's Ministry of Information on Wednesday.

"We understand that she is being interrogated by the CID. Her belongings have been searched," RTL editor-in-chief Ilse Oppenneer said in a statement. According to the news organization, Van Leeuwen worked with the correct accreditation and with permission from local authorities.

A lawyer was with Van Leeuwen. She was released again on Thursday evening. Pending further questioning, the journalist is not allowed to leave the country. "We are happy that she is doing well," reports editor-in-chief Oppenneer.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is also aware of the incident with the Africa correspondent and is providing assistance. The spokesperson cannot say anything about what this assistance entails.

"The president and his government are merciless," opposition leader Mohamed K Mansaray told Omroep Brabant. "They do everything and go to great lengths to protect Jos Leijdekkers."

Mansaray had contact with Van Leeuwen before she traveled to the country. "She wanted to make sure she did everything by the book," he says. According to Mansaray, Van Leeuwen wanted to take a look at the village of Tokeh this Thursday, near a resort where Leijdekkers is believed to be hiding. "They recently set up a checkpoint there, she was arrested there and taken to the CID."

The Sierra Leonean journalist organization SLAJ states that it is not often that journalists are arrested in the country in this way. According to the chairman of the organization, Ahmed Sahid Nasralla, the police have said that Van Leeuwen is suspected of possible espionage.

The country's Ministry of Information, however, reportedly said it did have the proper accreditation.

Last January it emerged that Jos Leijdekkers was hiding in Sierra Leone. On images of a New Year's mass, the Breda drug criminal could be seen together with the daughter of the country's president. In the meantime, the Ministry of Justice and Security has submitted an extradition request to the authorities of Sierra Leone.

Bolle Jos is seen as the biggest drug criminal in our country and is on the national wanted list. Leijdekkers was sentenced in the Netherlands to 24 years in prison for international cocaine trafficking and for giving a murder order.