Police have arrested a 50-year-old British fugitive accused of planting marijuana in Phnom Penh’s Cheung Ek commune.

Villagers searching for lost cows on Wayne Brewer's property discovered the marijuana plants and informed the authorities, Chim Sitha, Dangkor district police chief, said on Monday.

Brewer was picked up on Friday at his rental house, where 25 buckets of marijuana plants were growing, according to the National Police website.

“He has been in Prey Sar prison for two days,” Sitha said.

British media outlets reported that Brewer has been on the lam to avoid a 2006 assault charge in the United Kingdom. The British Embassy did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Sitha was unable to confirm the exact charges against Brewer, and court officials could not be immediately reached.

Updates to follow