Lesotho Tribune can exclusively report that Anwar Maqsood was arrested at Maseru Bridge while attempting to cross into South Africa with cannabis worth an estimated M2 million has been quietly processed through the courts under circumstances raising more questions than answers.
Court documents presented on Friday 29 August, suggest the accused was fined after being charged for possession of only M100,000 worth of cannabis, just a fraction of the haul he was allegedly caught with. Insiders told Lesotho Tribune that the drastic reduction in the official quantity of the contraband is no accident. The suspect is said to have been smuggling on behalf of none other than Member of Parliament Isaac Joseph Malebaleba, whose name has long been dogged by allegations of involvement in the illicit cannabis trade.
What fuelled suspicion of a cover-up, border officers on duty at Maseru Bridge were allegedly instructed not to photograph the suspect, breaking from the Lesotho Mounted Police Service’s routine practice of recording drug busts for evidence. “They were told to keep the cameras away,” one source said.
“And that alone tells you how high up the chain this matter goes.”
Malebaleba responds
When contacted by Lesotho Tribune, Malebaleba rejected suggestions that he was linked to the smuggling attempt. Asked about his alleged acquaintance with the arrested man, who has been identified as Pakistani national Anwar Maqsood, Malebaleba was categorical. “I do not know this man,” he said.
“I have only seen him on a few occasions at one of my business properties, where he appeared in the company of a Pakistani tenant. We have never had any conversation or any business dealings.”
Malebaleba revealed that he was called by the police a few days ago and informed of the arrest.
“The police told me that this Pakistani individual claimed to be my client, saying he had come from my farm to buy cannabis. I was shocked by this claim. Out of responsibility, I went directly to the police to clarify the matter and immediately conducted an inquiry with my employees at the farm. They all confirmed that they have never dealt with this man or with any cannabis transactions outside the legal framework,” he explained.
According to Malebaleba, even the police later concluded that the cannabis seized at Maseru Bridge was not of the same variety as what is cultivated at his licensed farm. He said the suspect ultimately admitted that the cannabis had been obtained from a farm in Mafeteng, providing the police with proof of payment and email correspondence with another dealer. “The facts speak for themselves,” Malebaleba insisted. “The product did not come from my farm.”
Allegations and history
This is not the first time Malebaleba’s name has surfaced in connection with cannabis smuggling. In 2021, the then Commander of the Lesotho Defence Force, Lieutenant General Mojalefa Letsoela, went on record accusing the MP, who also goes by the name Isaac Joseph, of running an illegal cannabis operation that employed underage children to ferry drugs across the border.
In that same year, the army seized 53 bags of cannabis belonging to Magic Dragon Medical, a company owned by Malebaleba. The case exploded into national headlines when Malebaleba attempted to use the courts to force the army to return the contraband. Justice Tšeliso Monaphathi even ruled that the seizure was unlawful and ordered the return of the bags. But Letsoela flatly refused, insisting that the cannabis was evidence in an ongoing smuggling investigation.
The commander went further, accusing Malebaleba of attempting to bribe an officer involved in the operation. He claimed the MP also leaned on cabinet ministers to intervene on his behalf when his efforts to recover the cannabis through back channels failed.
Audio recordings later surfaced, allegedly capturing Malebaleba attempting to negotiate a “man to man deal” with one of the officers, promising personal rewards if the consignment was quietly returned.
A pattern of impunity?
The latest incident at Maseru Bridge seems to fit an established pattern. Large consignments of cannabis linked to the MP are seized, but the full story never reaches the courts. Critics say it reveals the extent to which Lesotho’s cannabis sector, once hailed as a flagship medical industry, has been infiltrated by powerful individuals who treat the law as optional.
Today’s court appearance is already sparking outrage. A M2 million bust reduced to a M100,000 charge and a quick fine leaves observers asking who exactly is being protected. With police officers allegedly gagged from documenting the arrest, and with Malebaleba’s history of slipping through legal loopholes, questions are mounting over how much influence an MP can wield to bend the justice system.
“This is a travesty,” one border official source told Lesotho Tribune. “It shows that ordinary people will always face the full wrath of the law, while powerful figures walk away untouched. When an MP’s name keeps surfacing in smuggling cases but never faces a dock, what does that say about rule of law in Lesotho?”
As the dust settles over this week’s arrest, one thing is clear. The cannabis trade in Lesotho continues to be fertile ground not only for profit, but also for corruption, cover-ups, and dangerous alliances at the very heart of political power.
