Lesotho

Markets for heroin, cocaine and synthetic drugs reportedly have little to no influence on society. However, the legalisation of cannabis for medicinal purposes has led to Lesotho being at the forefront of the emerging cannabis industry. In relation to non-renewable resources crimes, there are concerns over diamond smuggling, as Lesotho is known for its easy access to high-quality diamonds. This has created a market for smuggled diamonds, especially in extremely impoverished areas. Experts note that, in terms of arms, smaller weapons are often smuggled into the country to be used in robbery, hijacking and petty crime. Homicides involving firearms are on the rise in Lesotho, which makes arms trafficking a concern. National criminal networks have a significant negative impact on society as they are described as being quite common and use moderate levels of violence. They also often have affiliations with political parties. State-embedded actors are, however, the most influential criminal actor type in Lesotho. Low-level corruption is known to facilitate illegal activity in the country, and government officials have been implicated in the human trafficking market. Lesotho ranks 30th for resilience, which reflects the country’s relatively average performance. The country scores well for international cooperation and national policies and laws against organised crime. Notably, however, corruption is considered to be rife and prevention measures and law enforcement in Lesotho, as well as territorial integrity, judicial system and detention, and victim and witness support are noted to be extremely ineffective.