TAIPEI (CNA) -- A Canadian tutor was arrested for growing marijuana at his residence in Taoyuan, the Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) said Friday.



The police seized dried marijuana and 163 cannabis plants with a street value of NT$1.2 million (US$39,041), said the CIB at a press conference.



The 52-year-old Canadian, identified by his surname Lee, ordered marijuana seeds and planting equipment from foreign websites last year, according to the CIB.



Recreational cannabis became legal across Canada last October.



Huang Wen-tsun (黃文圳), squadron leader of the bureau's Third Investigation Corps, said the man, who has lived in Taiwan for more than 10 years, was tracked down through his online activity.



Lee designed barrel-shaped plant shelves equipped with an automatic indoor lighting system and sprinklers to accelerate growth. As a result, he was able to harvest the marijuana within 4 months, said Huang.



To prevent Lee from selling the marijuana, the police applied for a search warrant on Jan. 30, when the Canadian national was arrested.



Unlike certain U.S. states and Canada where marijuana is allowed for medical or recreational purposes, in Taiwan it is a category two narcotic, with category one being heroin and opium.



The punishment for the manufacture, transportation or sale of category two narcotics is seven years to life imprisonment, Huang warned.