Copyright sundayexpress
…accuses Israeli businessman of illegal dagga sales Moorosi Tsiane / Hopolang Mokhupi COMMISSIONER of Police, Advocate (Adv) Borotho Matsoso, has hit back at Israeli businessman Tom Srugo, accusing him of illegally selling dagga in Lesotho. This comes after Mr Srugo — the owner of Arcana Seeds — filed a M26 million lawsuit against the police in May this year, claiming damages over the alleged destruction of his cannabis business. Mr Srugo’s claim stems from a police raid on his Thetsane West residence on 15 November 2024, during which he alleges that members of the Special Operations Unit (SOU) destroyed his cannabis plants, seeds, and flowers, despite his insistence that he possessed a valid trade licence. He claims that the police stormed his premises, destroyed his property, and confiscated all his products, resulting in massive losses — including the destruction of his cannabis plants, flowers, and what he terms “biological intellectual property.” Mr Srugo is seeking M21,485,760 in damages for the alleged loss of cannabis products and intellectual property, and an additional M4,800,000 for loss of business — bringing the total claim to M26,285,760. However, in his answering papers filed recently, Adv Matsoso disputes the claims, insisting that Mr Srugo is not entitled to any compensation, as the police did not destroy his cannabis plants. “It is also worth mentioning that during the operation, the police officers apprehended some businessmen with drugs in bags and sachets,” Adv Matsoso states. “During interrogation, one Retšelisitsoe Makhebesela informed the police that the drugs had been bought from a foreigner named Srugo. Acting on that information, the officers proceeded to Srugo’s homestead, where he was identified and pointed out by Makhebesela as the seller. Srugo, upon interrogation, admitted that he was selling drugs and had indeed sold some to Makhebesela”. Adv Matsoso further explains that the cannabis plants, flowers, and biological material found during the operation were not destroyed, but impounded, after it was discovered that they had been grown and kept unlawfully. “During the operation, Srugo’s cannabis plants, flowers, and biological materials were never destroyed; instead, they were taken and impounded after it was discovered that the drugs were being cultivated and stored unlawfully.” He also maintains that Arcana Seeds remains operational in Kolonyama, Leribe, and not at Thetsane, Maseru. “As for the dagga cultivated and sold at Thetsane, it was not lawfully licensed. Hence the criminal charges levelled against him. We therefore pray that this claim be dismissed with costs.” Meanwhile, court records show that Mr Srugo was arrested on 11 May 2022 and later appeared before the Maseru Magistrates Court on charges of illegally growing cannabis inside his seven-roomed house at Thetsane West. According to police reports, he was found in possession of 376 cannabis planting pots, which were being cultivated in six of the seven rooms of the rented property. Mr Srugo was granted M1000 bail, and the case remains pending before the Maseru Magistrates Court.
