Overview

• Nearly 40 pounds of processed marijuana were seized in a recent raid on a rural Maine home, operated by a naturalized U.S. citizen from China.
• The DEA is actively investigating around 100 illicit marijuana grow operations across approximately 20 states, including Maine.
• The operations are linked to international criminal organizations, exploiting state legalization laws to distribute marijuana illegally across state lines.
• High electricity bills and modified infrastructure at grow houses are among the primary indicators used by law enforcement to identify illegal operations.
• The federal, state, and local authorities are intensifying efforts to dismantle these operations, underlining the need for strong and sustained enforcement.