A suspected drug dealer arrested this week with seven packages of marijuana on his person in Preah Sihanouk province was on Wednesday sent to pretrial detention, a local police chief confirmed yesterday.

“The suspect was caught with 70 grams of marijuana,” said Preah Sihanouk town deputy police chief Chum Sokunthear yesterday, adding that suspect Van Sayoin was sent to the provincial court, where the prosecutor charged and detained him.

Sayoin was caught hawking weed on the beach in Sihanoukville, Sokunthear said.

The marijuana was reportedly bought for $60 from a different dealer. Sayoin was trying to sell marijuana to visiting foreigners, but was busted before he could turn a profit.

On Tuesday, police in western Cambodia burnt close to 8,000 marijuana plants in Pursat province after a crop was found among sesame plants. The plants’ owner was not found during the raid.

According to local police, the marijuana was torched to send a message to residents that cultivating drugs will not be tolerated.