Kabelo Masoabi
IN the bustling industrial town of Maputsoe, a troubling reality is unfolding beneath the hum of factory machinery and the rhythm of daily trade.
Once a beacon of employment in Lesotho’s textile sector, the town is now grappling with a surge in youth drug abuse—an issue deeply intertwined with rising school dropout rates and persistent unemployment.
Recent police operations have exposed the scale of the crisis. Authorities arrested a foreign national accused of distributing crystal meth and dagga, allegedly using local youth as street-level dealers. The incident is not isolated; rather, it reflects a growing underground network that preys on vulnerable young people with limited opportunities and bleak prospects.
At the heart of this crisis lies a cycle of economic hardship. While Maputsoe remains a key hub for garment and textile manufacturing, the sector has experienced instability marked by layoffs, labour disputes, and low wages. Although some factories have expanded and created jobs, many families continue to struggle to meet basic needs. For households living on minimal incomes, education has become an unaffordable luxury.
“I can only afford to feed my children,” said unemployed mother ’Mathabiso Toloki. “I cannot feed them and take them to school at the same time. It’s not possible.”
Easy access, dangerous choices
Reports in March 2026 highlighted a worsening drug epidemic in Lesotho, with organised groups such as Mokhosi oa Mangoana (“a mother’s cry”) expressing deep concern over the deterioration of young lives.
In Maputsoe, the burden is even heavier for vulnerable children, particularly orphans. Some as young as 10 are forced onto the streets, running errands or helping customers carry groceries to the bus-stop to survive. It is here, in these fragile conditions, that exposure to substance abuse often begins.
Cheap and easily accessible substances such as shoe glue often serve as an entry point—quickly escalating to dagga and eventually to more dangerous drugs like crystal methamphetamine, commonly known as meth or “ice”. Crystal meth is a powerful, highly addictive stimulant that affects the central nervous system. It can be smoked, injected, snorted or swallowed, and is strongly associated with increased violence, including domestic abuse, child endangerment and psychosis.
The consequences are visible across Maputsoe. Increasing numbers of young people—many battling untreated mental health conditions—roam the streets or occupy abandoned buildings. Without supervision or support, they become easy targets for exploitation by criminal networks.
The shift in substance use patterns further underscores the economic dimension of the crisis. Alcohol, once a common vice, is becoming less prevalent—not due to increased awareness, but because of affordability. Many young people now turn to drugs like crystal meth, which are cheaper and offer longer-lasting intoxication.
“These new drugs help you forget your problems for days,” one youth said.
“One sachet of meth is cheaper than a weekend of drinking. It was difficult when I first started using it because it made me sleep for long periods without feeling hungry or thirsty. But with frequent use, I adapted. No job, no school—just stealing and smoking. That’s how I live,” said a young man known on the streets as Gun.
This normalisation of drug use has far-reaching social consequences. Reports of erratic behaviour, exploitation, and increased criminal activity are becoming more frequent. Communities are witnessing not only the erosion of youth potential, but also the breakdown of social structures meant to protect them.
Despite ongoing industrial activity in Maputsoe, the benefits are not reaching everyone equally. Low wages, job insecurity, and limited social support systems continue to push families into survival mode. In this environment, education is often the first casualty—and without it, young people are left with few alternatives.
When drug abuse turns deadly
Kabelo Theoha, 27, of Ha Nyenye in Maputsoe, is awaiting trial after being charged last year with the murder of his 58-year-old mother in an incident police believe was linked to drug use.
According to Senior Inspector Khoromeng Sekhonyana of the Maputsoe Police Station, officers received a distress call in the early hours of 19 June 2025, reporting that a woman had been overpowered by her son, who was allegedly assaulting her with a knife.
By the time officers arrived, the victim had already been rushed to Motebang Hospital in the neighbouring Hlotse town, where she was declared dead on arrival.
Investigations revealed that Theoha allegedly attacked his mother inside their home, stabbing her repeatedly. She managed to flee outside, screaming for help, but he reportedly chased her and continued the assault.
Residents who rushed to the scene attempted to intervene but struggled to subdue him due to his violent behaviour. It was only after more people joined in that they managed to disarm and restrain him. Police later found the accused under the control of community members.
Police suspect he was under the influence of drugs at the time. Senior Inspector Sekhonyana condemned the incident as deeply troubling and urged parents to remain vigilant and monitor behavioural changes in their children.
Drug supply networks expanding
The case forms part of a broader pattern of drug-related crime in the area. In a separate matter, 31-year-old Teboho Thamahane of Likileng in Botha-Bothe appeared before the Magistrate’s Court on 15 April 2025, facing charges of possessing and supplying drugs to minors.
Investigations began after traffic officers stopped a vehicle carrying underage children on 7 April that year and became suspicious. The children revealed they had left Maputsoe three days earlier and had been using drugs at Thamahane’s house. This led police to his residence, where drugs were found and he was arrested.
Drug dealers, often operating discreetly behind informal street stalls, have turned everyday spaces into hubs of illegal trade.
“Getting drugs here is as easy as buying a cigarette,” said a local resident, Lucky, who is battling crystal meth addiction.
“Youth pretend to be vendors, but they are selling something else. Even some public transport drivers are involved.”
Courts sound the alarm
The judiciary has also raised concern over the growing prevalence of drug abuse. In January this year, Magistrate ’Mapitso Rantja of the Leribe Magistrate’s Court criticised adults who sell drugs to young people, warning of the severe consequences for society.
She said many youths begin with cannabis before progressing to more dangerous substances such as nyaope.
Her remarks came during sentencing proceedings of Motseki Motseki, a 47-year-old tavern owner from Ha Maqele, Maputsoe, who admitted to selling cannabis. He was arrested in possession of 3.2 kilograms of marijuana. He opted to pay a M2000 fine instead of serving a two-year custodial sentence.
In another case, David Amos, a 31-year-old Ghanaian national residing in Maputsoe, appeared before the Leribe Magistrate’s Court on 20 February this year. He faces charges of drug trafficking and failing to possess valid immigration documents.
Police, acting on a tip-off, found him packaging a white powder at his residence on 12 February. The substance was later confirmed to be drugs, leading to his arrest. Authorities have warned that drug trafficking—by both locals and foreign nationals—is contributing to the destruction of young lives.
Drug crisis tearing apart families
A concerned parent from Ha Moholisa, Alice Pokoane, said the devastating impact of crystal meth use in Maputsoe is increasingly evident.
She warned that individuals are turning the town into a drug distribution hub, ultimately destroying the future of children.
“Families are being torn apart, young people are losing their dreams, and crime is rising,” she said.
“There is a young man in Ha Moholisa who has gone as far as dismantling parts of his parents’ home, including the ceiling and doors. He steals household items to sell in order to buy drugs.”
She urged the community to work with law enforcement by reporting those involved in drug distribution.
Efforts to reclaim the youth
Amid these challenges, efforts are underway to steer young people away from substance abuse. Maputsoe police continue to strengthen relations with communities through public gatherings focused on raising awareness about drug abuse and crime prevention.
Officers are also collaborating with the army in some initiatives, reinforcing a united front against crime.
At a recent community meeting held at Ha Chonapase, Sub-Inspector Khahliso Latela of the Crime Prevention Unit urged residents to work closely with their chief and the community policing forum, and to report suspicious activities promptly.
He emphasised that effective crime prevention depends on strong partnerships between the police and the community.
Maputsoe stands at a crossroads. Its future depends not only on economic growth, but on whether that growth can translate into meaningful opportunities for its youngest and most vulnerable residents. Until then, many will continue to fall through the cracks—trading classrooms for street corners, and dreams for dangerous escapes.
Addressing the crisis requires more than law enforcement. While arrests may temporarily disrupt supply chains, the root causes—poverty, unemployment, and lack of access to education—remain deeply entrenched. Without targeted interventions that prioritise youth empowerment, affordable education, and mental health support, the cycle is likely to persist.