by Audrey L Ncube
Botswana national Lesedi Molapisi has received a death sentence in Bangladesh for her role in smuggling heroin into the country. The verdict was delivered on May 27 by Judge Md. Aminul Islam, as reported by blogger Setlhomo Raymond Tshwanelang.
Lesedi was arrested in January 2022 at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport after arriving on a Qatar Airways flight from South Africa. Authorities discovered 3 kilograms of heroin concealed in her luggage while she was passing through the airport’s “Green Channel,” which is designated for passengers without items to declare. Her co-conspirator, Mahibul Islam Masood, a Bangladeshi national, was acquitted of the charges.
Bangladesh enforces a strict zero-tolerance policy on drug trafficking, imposing severe penalties for those convicted of smuggling large quantities of illegal substances. According to sources, while Lesedi has the option to appeal her sentence, the likelihood of a successful appeal is considered slim, placing her future in jeopardy.
As the legal proceedings continue, the case sheds light on the harsh realities of drug trafficking laws in Bangladesh, particularly for foreign nationals.
