VZCZCXRO0189
RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHRN
DE RUEHMR #0001 0041330
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 041330Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY MASERU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4539
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RUEHMR/AMEMBASSY MASERU 4974

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