Dutch authorities arrested 34 individuals, including French, Belgian, Algerian, and Dutch nationals, following a pre-dawn shootout early Tuesday in the eastern town of Overasselt near the German border. The incident resulted in one fatality and injuries to two police officers.

The violence unfolded around 4 a.m. when a group of heavily armed men wearing balaclavas approached a residence in Overasselt, and gunfire erupted. A 51-year-old security guard at the house was killed in the exchange, according to local media reports. Officers who responded to the scene also came under fire, with two sustaining non-life-threatening injuries.

Police spokeswoman Jolanda Aalbers confirmed the recovery of several weapons, data storage devices, and vehicles during the operation. Residents were advised to stay indoors with windows and doors secured, amid concerns that some suspects might still have been at large.

Authorities linked the shootout to the criminal network of Jos Leijdekkers, also known as “Bolle Jos,” one of the Netherlands’ most wanted drug lords. Leijdekkers has a history of convictions related to international cocaine trafficking and is believed to be in Sierra Leone. Reports indicate he is in a relationship with the daughter of Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio.

Deputy Chief Prosecutor Monique Vinkesteijn described the arrested group as “international in nature,” involving individuals from several countries. She noted that the suspects face a range of charges, including murder, manslaughter, and conspiracy to kidnap. Vinkesteijn also confirmed that the house where the shooting took place had been the site of a previous shooting last year connected to a “longstanding conflict,” though she declined to provide further details due to the ongoing investigation.

Local media attributed the clash to a dispute over several hundred kilograms of cocaine believed to have been trafficked by Leijdekkers’ network. The incident has drawn condemnation from local officials. Overasselt Mayor Joerie Minses described the violence as “un-Dutch” and said the community was deeply shocked by the extreme nature of the events.

Investigations are ongoing, and authorities have indicated that further arrests could follow as the case develops.