The Maine Press
Maine authorities have intensified their crackdown on illegal marijuana operations, conducting multiple raids across central Maine in January, including raids on Kennebec County and Lincoln County properties that resulted in six arrests Tuesday.
According to a leaked Department of Homeland Security memo, there are more than 270 illicit marijuana cultivation sites operating throughout rural Maine at the behest of Asian Transnational Criminal Organizations (ATCOs).
In the latest action, police targeted three operations throughout Kennebec County and Lincoln County on Tuesday, bringing the total number of raids to seven over the past month.
According to the Lincoln County Sheriff’s office, the following individuals were arrested in the raids:
- Weihuan Liu, 41, of Brooklyn, NY: Arrested during the raid of 91 Jefferson Road. More than 700 plants and 40 lbs of processed marijuana seized.
- Huan Ying Li, 57, formerly of NYC. Arrested during the raid of 333 North Howe Road, Whitefield. Nearly 30 pounds of processed marijuana seized. According to Lincoln County property records, Li purchased the property in November 2019.
- Zhen Zhong Chen, 45, the property owner of 170 Rockland Road, Jefferson, was arrested at his residence after the seizure of 820 plants.
- Ming Da Li, 41, of Brooklyn, NY, arrested at 754 Cooper Road, Chelsea, after the seizure of nearly 900 plants. According to property records, the residence was purchased Aug. 2020 by Xinqiao Huang of Brooklyn, N.Y.
- Wan Ting Xiao, 50, of San Gabriel, Ca., arrested at 19 Abby Lane, Whitefield, after the seizure of 2,294 plants and 40 pounds of processed marijuana.
- Ding Zhan Liao, 49, of Brooklyn, NY., also arrested at 19 Abby Lane.
