In its bid to further strengthen the border management capacity of the Lesotho Government, IOM conducted a two-day intensive training on “Document Examination Techniques” to a special squad of the Lesotho Mounted Police Services (LMPS) which is responsible for document examination at the major entry ports in Lesotho. The training was led by a team of experienced immigration officers from the United Kingdom currently serving with the South African Immigration Services (SAIL).    

The principal objective of the training was for officials to hone their practical and theoretical skill/understanding of modern techniques of document examination and identity verification. A total of 54 officials (28 male, 26 female) representing the Police, Immigration and Border Managers attended the training. During the training, participants learned about the fundamental principles of document examination, detection of fraudulent documents, basic security features of passports, detection of imposters and the use of basic document examination tools.

Following the training, and, in recognition of the capacity lacuna of the Lesotho government in the area of integrated border management (IBM), IOM donated a new set of document examination equipment -comprising of 40 loupe magnifier; 40 mini torch and 40 LED UV Torch- to the LMPS. Receiving the donation on behalf of Lesotho, the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Holomo Molibeli thanked the United States Government for its support to Lesotho through IOM and solicited United States’ continued collaboration on Lesotho’s efforts to fight human trafficking, irregular migration and other cross-border crimes. Trained officials are expected to put into use the donated equipment to perform their duties immediately.

The meeting was supported under the PRM-funded Africa Regional Migration Program (ARMP).
 

For more information please contact Tsepo Molefi tmolefi@iom.int