Manhunt for drug accused Chinese

Hopolang Mokhopi

THE Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS) has launched a manhunt for two Chinese nationals who failed to appear before the Maseru Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday for their remand and the hearing of their application to quash and set aside charges against them.

Magistrate Lebusa Tšosane issued warrants of arrest for Chen Minglevu and Yang Xiong Kang after they failed to attend court.

The two are among six accused in the Khubetsoana suspected drug laboratory case.

LMPS spokesperson, Superintendent Thabo Mohai, told the Sunday Express yesterday that police were now searching for the two men following the warrants issued by the court.

“Now that the court has issued warrants for contempt of court, we have to execute them,” Supt Mohai said.

He said police did not yet know the whereabouts of the accused but had launched a search for them.

Supt Mohai said the LMPS had not yet sought assistance from Interpol or the South African Police Service (SAPS), adding that this would depend on the progress of the search.

“We have not yet engaged Interpol and SAPS because we still do not know where they are. That will depend on where the search leads us,” he said.

The two are charged alongside Ministry of Trade, Business Development and Industry Senior Industry Development Officer Kemong Masupha, another Chinese Chen Wei, their company Stan Dar Pty (Ltd) and Basotho National Party leader Machesetsa Mofomobe.

Their lawyer, Advocate Christopher Lephuthing, had told the court on Tuesday that he did not know their whereabouts despite unsuccessful attempts to contact them.

The Crown was represented by Acting Director of Public Prosecutions Advocate Lehlanako Mofilikoane, Advocates Tsebiso Fuma and Keketso Motiki, while the defence was represented by Advocates Lephuthing and Qhophe.

The six accused face three charges arising from allegations surrounding a suspected clandestine drug laboratory at Khubetsoana, Lifariking.

The charges include unlawfully manufacturing drugs; importing medicines and medical devices without the required licences; and discharging hazardous substances and chemicals into the environment without complying with prescribed regulations.

The accused were charged in June this year, while Mofomobe was joined to the case last month. They were released on M5 000 bail and M50 000 surety.

The Crown alleges that between August 2025 and March 2026, the accused unlawfully produced, manufactured and distributed drugs of abuse, including ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, methcathinone and methamphetamine.

They are further accused of importing medicines and medical devices through the Maseru Border Post without the required licences.

The third charge relates to allegations that hazardous substances and chemicals were discharged into the environment without complying with prescribed regulations.

The case stems from a February 2026 raid by the Maseru Central Beat Patrol Unit on a rented workshop in Lifariking, Khubetsoana.

Police allegedly discovered about 7.5 tonnes of chemicals associated with the manufacture of crystal methamphetamine, ecstasy and substances linked to khat. The substances were estimated to have a street value of about M5 billion.

Meanwhile, the accused’s application to have the charges quashed and set aside has been postponed to 19 October 2026 following the failure of the two Chinese nationals to appear in court.

Magistrate Tšosane said the matter could not proceed in the absence of some of the accused.

“I cannot proceed with the case while other accused are not before court. At some stage they will complain at the High Court that I proceeded in their absence. That is not how the law works; it will be unprocedural for me to proceed,” he said.

However, Adv Lephuthing argued that the court should proceed with the application because all the necessary papers had already been filed.

“I am ready to proceed with the case today, so I hear my learned friends saying we should postpone. It will be a sad day for me if the case is not argued because someone is missing, yet everything has been submitted,” Adv Lephuthing said.

He argued that the application to quash and set aside the charges contained a civil component and that the court could deal with that aspect while leaving the issue of the warrants to its discretion.

Adv Fuma, appearing for the Crown, argued that the court should be guided by Section 173 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act, maintaining that the accused were still required to be present even if the application contained a civil component.

The matter was consequently postponed to 19 October 2026.