Police cracked down on a suspect who was growing marijuana plants on his farm in Banteay Meanchey’s Poipet town after he was arrested for threatening to kill fellow villagers on Saturday.

A police official said on Sunday that Khien Saron, 32, was intoxicated and holding a machete during an argument in the town’s eponymous commune.

After getting a report on the incident, officers made the arrest the same day.

“After the arrest, authorities seized 36 marijuana plants which Saron planted illegally in his farm,” said Keo Bora, Prey Kob station police chief.

The suspect was subsequently sent to Poipet Town Police Station where, according to Police Chief Thin Sindet, he admitted planting the marijuana for personal consumption, not for commercial purposes.

“The marijuana plant has been categorised as a prohibited and addictive plant, so planting and consuming it is considered a crime and the suspect will be sent to Banteay Meanchey Provincial Court for further procedures,” Sindet said.

Previously sold openly at many of the Kingdom’s markets, marijuana has been the subject of several crackdowns by police.

In April, a 50-year-old British fugitive was arrested on the outskirts of the capital for having 25 marijuana plants in buckets in his house.