…at Moshoeshoe I Airport
…syndicate sent back home
Moorosi Tsiane
TWO South African pilots have been intercepted at Moshoeshoe I International Airport after allegedly attempting to transport 500 kilograms of cannabis through Lesotho.
The pilots, identified as Pirx Albertus and Merwe Reinart, were flying a Federal Airlines aircraft, registration ZS-PIR, which allegedly landed unlawfully at Moshoeshoe I International Airport on Thursday.
Sources close to the investigation claim the aircraft had arrived from Thailand carrying a consignment of cannabis allegedly destined for South Africa.
According to a source familiar with the matter, the latest seizure forms part of a larger operation involving four consignments, each weighing 500 kilograms. The latest shipment alone is estimated to be worth about M5 million.
“The Federal Airlines aircraft landed unlawfully at Moshoeshoe I Airport on 28 May 2026. The pilots, Pirx Albertus and Merwe Reinart, are both South African nationals. They were carrying 500 kilograms of cannabis valued at approximately M5 million. Police were immediately alerted and rushed to the scene,” the source said.
The source said the pilots were subsequently charged under aviation regulations for unlawfully landing in Lesotho.
“The two pilots were fined M200,000 for landing unlawfully in the country and were sent back to South Africa. The aircraft had travelled from Thailand to Lesotho and the cannabis was allegedly destined for South Africa by road.”
The fine was reportedly suspended on condition that the offence is not repeated.
Investigators are also pursuing six Basotho men from Khubetsoana, Qoaling and Leribe who are allegedly linked to the operation.
“This syndicate involves six Basotho males who will soon face charges as investigations are still ongoing,” the source said.
The source further alleged that this was the fourth consignment linked to the same network and that police had successfully intercepted the previous three shipments, each weighing 500 kilograms.
According to investigators, the pilots initially informed authorities that the cannabis was destined for Maseleng in Peka. However, follow-up investigations allegedly failed to substantiate the claim.
“When police followed up on that information, they discovered there was no such arrangement. The cannabis was eventually impounded after police obtained a court order. It is currently being kept at Police Headquarters while investigations continue,” the source said.
The investigation has also raised questions about permits allegedly used to facilitate the importation of the cannabis.
Authorities are reportedly examining how the Basotho suspects obtained permits allowing them to import cannabis from Thailand despite Lesotho already having an established medical cannabis industry.
“The people found in possession of the permits appear to be mere transporters. The real question is how they obtained permission to import cannabis from Thailand in the first place,” the source said.
“Why import cannabis from Thailand when Lesotho already produces medical cannabis?”
The source further alleged that certain officials may have assisted the operation.
“This suggests possible involvement of some officials within the Ministry of Health, as well as drug cartels operating from South Africa. Initially, those involved claimed the cannabis would be used to manufacture medicine, but they do not possess the machinery required to produce such medicines.”
According to the source, investigators suspect wealthy South African drug traffickers may be using Basotho intermediaries to facilitate the movement of cannabis from Thailand into South Africa through Lesotho.
“The suspicion is that South African drug kingpins are using some of these Basotho men to transport the cannabis into South Africa once it has landed from Thailand,” the source said.
The source added that the pilots were arrested under the Aviation Regulations of 2008 for unlawfully landing in Lesotho.
“They were directed to return to where they had come from with the cannabis and subsequently left the country.”
However, police spokesperson Superintendent Thabo Mohai offered a different account, insisting that the aircraft was not intercepted because of cannabis but because it had landed in Lesotho without the required aviation clearance.
“There was indeed an aircraft that was sent back to South Africa, but it was not because of cannabis. It was because the aircraft landed unlawfully in the country without the necessary permission,” Supt Mohai said.
He said authorities did not permit the aircraft to offload what was believed to be medical cannabis.
“This aircraft was not impounded for transporting cannabis. It was impounded because it landed illegally in the country without a permit. That is why it was denied permission to unload the medical cannabis it was carrying.”
Supt Mohai further stated that the cannabis shipment was accompanied by documentation allegedly issued through the Ministry of Health.
“The cannabis in question had permits which were allegedly issued through the Ministry of Health,” he said.
Asked about reports that the pilots had been fined M200,000, Supt Mohai said aviation authorities would be better placed to comment on the matter.
“I cannot confirm the fines. I think the aviation authorities are the appropriate people to provide that information,” he said.