In the quiet farmlands of Maine, a shadowy invasion is taking root: illegal marijuana operations churning out black-market cannabis. But these aren’t your typical backyard pot farms—they are sophisticated setups allegedly run by transnational criminal networks with deep ties to China. Mikenzie Frost reports.

The following is a transcript of a report from “Full Measure with Sharyl Attkisson.”
Watch the video by clicking the link at the end of the page.

In Maine, you expect to find rugged beaches, rural pastures, and remote roads.

not rows and rows of marijuana grown illegally by Chinese citizens on a rented farm.

yet that’s exactly what Machias police lieutenant Tim Mace discovered while executing a search warrant in late 2023 — a shadowy network of Chinese nationals growing black market marijuana that local police and even the drug enforcement administration believe are connected to organized crime, human trafficking, money laundering —possibly even tied directly to the Chinese Communist Party.

That’s where republican senator Susan Collins of Maine sees a national security issue.

Sen. Susan Collins: These grow houses have been linked to transnational Chinese gangs. They are operating illegally. It is likely part of an elaborate money laundering scheme and it may be linked to the fentanyl trade as well.

It’s legal to grow small amounts of marijuana in Maine. but police say this operation far exceeded the limits —and without required permits.

Lt. Tim Mace: We had received, actually in that summer prior to, a bunch of complaints about illegal grow. Our initial reaction was it’s legal, marijuana has been legalized, so we don’t really care a whole lot. But then we started looking into it and fielding complaints from other growers who were like, we have to pay these taxes, these startup fees. It’s not fair that these people are doing it illegally. So we started to dig into it, realized the scope of it, that it was this really large appearing grow, three big buildings.

Mikenzie Frost: And what did you find when you went inside the building?

Lt. Tim Mace: about 2,600 plants in various states of growth, and we recovered a bunch of marijuana – packaged and some that was dry.

Mikenzie Frost: What about the people?

Lt. Tim Mace: there were three males there. They had Asian IDs. They said they came to Maine to eat lobster. Some denied they even knew the grow was there.

Those 3 males, Ming Li, holding a Chinese passport with a us visa, Peng You Phang, with a Malaysian passport, and Dong Yang Li, a Chinese citizen with a drives license issued in New York. All three were arrested, charged with two counts of felony drug trafficking.

Lt. Tim Mace: it looks like they were posting, someone was posting for farmers to come to Maine and grow. It was very vague

Lt Mace says the property was a family farm for generations.

Lt. Tim Mace: Then in 2020, an Asian male bought it, and then from a year and a half exchanged hands three times, almost three or four months apart. We dug into the power bills. There was about six different names on the power bills in that timeframe. So it really seemed there were a lot of co-conspirators involved in this.

Mikenzie Frost: What does that indicate to you?

Lt. Tim Mace: That there’s something larger going on, that there’s multiple

people and it’s a million dollar business.

What happened in Machias wasn’t an isolated incident. In fact, federal officials now say more than 270 suspected illegal marijuana growing operation, all believed to be connected to Chinese citizens, have been identified in Maine alone.

Beyond Maine, since 2023, Chinese suspects have been arrested in dozens of similar busts. In Oklahoma federal authorities report that illegal marijuana farms tied to Chinese criminal networks have been uncovered in as many as 20 states.

Senator Collins pressed the issue at a recent hearing.

Sen. Susan Collins: Director Patel. Has the FBI developed a strategy and dedicated resources toward combating these illegal marijuana grows that are tied to transnational criminal organizations in China?

FBI Director Kash Patel: What we’ve done since I’ve taken the seat as the Director of the FBI is reprioritize assets to push out into the field. We have numerous new investigations open on just these matters alone, but the field is telling me what you’re telling me: we need more folks out there. I’m trying to put them out there as fast as I can

Mikenzie Frost: Do you believe that the Chinese government knows that this operation is happening in the United States and that they are sending these people here to do this?

Sen. Susan Collins: I do. I cannot prove that, but given how invasive

the Chinese government is when it comes to controlling the lives of its citizens, it’s very

difficult for me to believe that the Chinese government does not know that these illegal

growing operations are operating in the United States

Lieutenant Mace says the suspects may have chosen Machias for the illegal operation in part because the police department only has a handful of full time officers covering 14 square miles.

Lt. Tim Mace: Where we’re so remote, law enforcement is scattered. It’s easier for people to come here and kind of hide out

Mikenzie Frost: Do you think that they knew that you guys were a four man department?

Lt. Tim Mace: Yeah, I’m sure they did. I’m sure they did some kind of reconnaissance to know where to be or where to put it

Mikenzie Frost: Do you think that other towns, maybe not in Maine, but in other rural states that have small departments like that, should they be concerned that they might be next?

Lt. Tim Mace: Yeah, I mean I would be. It seems like it’s more and more

becoming a national issue. As marijuana becomes legalized, they keep popping up in

all those states that do. So yeah, I would be very worried.

Sharyl (on camera) So interesting. What happened to the three men who were arrested?

Mikenzie (on camera): So all of the major charges were dropped against that Chinese national who had the New York driver’s license. Instead, he pleaded guilty to some minor marijuana possession charges and he was sentenced to 90 days in jail plus a $400 fine.

Sharyl: Why?

Mikenzie: We don’t really know. We don’t have any word from law enforcement or court officials about why those major charges were dropped. Now, the Malaysian individual, he is currently out on bail awaiting a trial. And that third individual he vanished in an active warrant is out for his arrest right now.

Sharyl: Very interesting. Thanks so much, Mikenzie.

Watch video here.

The post (WATCH) Chinese Pot: Maine appeared first on Sharyl Attkisson.

 

IPAK-EDU is grateful to Sharyl Attkisson as this piece was originally published there and is included in this news feed with mutual agreement. Read More