On September 8, Suriname police announced updated progress in the high-profile disappearance case of Rodney Leysner, confirming that a deployed Dutch rescue dog team has uncovered relevant evidence to advance the criminal investigation, though no remains have been found during the multi-location search operation.
Police spokesperson Michael Elskamp stated that the details of the newly discovered clues cannot be disclosed to the public at this stage, to protect the integrity of the ongoing investigation. The 10-day search mission conducted by the Dutch team has officially concluded, and the unit is scheduled to depart Suriname for the Netherlands on the same day of the announcement, September 8.
According to Elskamp, the rescue dog team began operating across multiple search sites between September 2 and September 6, after arriving in Suriname on August 31 to assist local law enforcement with the disappearance probe. The search efforts were primarily concentrated in Saramacca District, covering the site where Leysner’s burned-out vehicle was initially discovered, the property of detained suspect R.E. and an adjacent plot of land. On September 5, rescue dogs were also called in to conduct additional forensic analysis on the charred vehicle stored at a local police station.
“Even though no body was located throughout the entire search operation, the work carried out by the team has still yielded relevant clues that will support the next phase of the investigation,” Elskamp confirmed. He declined to elaborate on the nature of the evidence, noting that the criminal investigation remains in its early stages, and preserving a careful, uninterrupted inquiry process is the top priority for law enforcement.
The entire search operation was led by the Suriname Police’s Capital Crimes Division, with additional support from the force’s Forensic Investigation Department and Drone Unit. Local police in Calcutta provided constant 24-hour security for all search sites during the investigation period.
With the completion of the search mission, the deployment of the Dutch rescue dog team has formally come to an end. The investigation into Leysner’s disappearance remains ongoing at full pace, per police confirmation. Authorities will release further public updates once the investigation progresses enough that additional substantive information can be shared without compromising the case.