LOCAL POLICE DESCRIBE LESOTHO AS A "HOTSPOT" FOR DRUG

UNCLAS MASERU 000001 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/S, DS/AF/IP PRETORIA FOR DEA AND DATT E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC SNAR LT SUBJECT: LOCAL POLICE DESCRIBE LESOTHO AS A "HOTSPOT" FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING ¶1. (SBU) On December 3, 2009, Police Chief Bheki Cele of South Africa commented in South Africa's Star newspaper that Lesotho was one of the hotspots for drug trafficking in the Southern African region. Cele's comments came after South African Police Service (SAPS) officers busted a cross-border drug trafficking syndicate operating between South Africa and Lesotho after a two month, intensive surveillance operation. SAPS stated that they were successful in recovering approximately one million South African rand (or about USD 140,000) worth of dagga, the local name for cannabis/marijuana. They also arrested 17 Lesotho nationals involved in drug trafficking. SAPS charged all 17 Basotho suspects with being in the country illegally; 13 of them were also charged with possession of dagga with intent to sell and 4 with firearm and ammunition possession. ¶2. (SBU) When contacted regarding the above case, Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS) representatives were unaware of it. Both Inspector Mokete Phephetho, LMPS's Drug Unit Chief, and Superintendent Pheelo Mphana, LMPS's Public Relations Officer, were surprised to learn of this arrest. Superintendent Mphana stated that SAPS routinely conducts surveillance operations along Lesotho's border with South Africa without notifying or consulting the LMPS. Inspector Phephetho stated that the LMPS is normally notified after the fact by the southern Africa National Central Bureau, located in Harare, Zimbabwe. ¶3. (SBU) Mphana provided the following updates regarding illicit drug trafficking in Lesotho. The prominent drug in Lesotho is dagga, which is cultivated on the arable lands in the mountains and is harvested within a very short period. Due to Lesotho's mountainous topography, this cultivation is not easily detected and areas for growing are not easily accessible. For the period of January 2009 to June 2009, 1107 kg of dagga was discovered, while for the period of July 2009 to December 2009, 1751 kg was discovered. All of the cases involved in these discoveries were prosecuted in court and suspects were convicted. ¶4. (SBU) Mphana added that Lesotho is also a conduit for drugs which are trafficked and smuggled in the region, destined for international markets. Although suspects have been arrested who had cocaine and heroin in their possession, the LMPS has no proof of any production of these illicit drugs in Lesotho. In 2009 Lesotho confiscated 10.29 kg of cocaine, and in 2008, 139 kg of cocaine was confiscated, the largest amount ever detected locally. The cocaine was suspected to have come from Germany, and the involved suspects' countries of origin included Germany, China, South Africa, and Lesotho. Mphana stated that although the LMPS have no registered cases in relation to the smuggling and trafficking of other drugs in Lesotho, they cannot discount the possibility that some have avoided detection by the LMPS. ¶5. (SBU) The LMPS has made efforts to increase their drug enforcement patrols in Lesotho, by strengthening the security at the airports, borders, and villages where illicit drugs can be either grown and easily transported. Additionally, the LMPS and the GOL work along with neighboring South Africa to conduct joint investigations, through liaison with the Southern African Regional Police Chiefs Cooperation Organization (SARPCCO). POWER