In a latest crackdown on illegal marijuana operations thriving under the guise of state legalization, law enforcement authorities have discovered a hidden grow operation in rural Maine. The raid led to the seizure of nearly 40 pounds of processed marijuana, highlighting a concerning trend of foreign nationals exploiting the United States' cannabis laws.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is currently investigating international criminal organizations that are running illegal marijuana grows in approximately 20 states, including Maine. This revelation came during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing, in response to a question raised by Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine. The investigation has identified about 100 illicit grow operations in the state, with around 40 search warrants issued since June.

Court documents unsealed this week revealed that Xisen Guo, a naturalized U.S. citizen born in China, has been accused of operating a sophisticated, illegal grow operation in Passadumkeag, located about 60 miles north of Bangor. Guo has been charged with federal drug offenses and was ordered to be held without bail. A detention hearing has been scheduled for Monday.

Multiple agencies, including the Internal Revenue Service, Department of Homeland Security, FBI, and local law enforcement, are collaborating in efforts to uncover the truth behind these illicit grow operations in Maine. The state has legalized adult consumption of marijuana but strictly requires growers to be licensed. According to court documents, Guo was operating an unlicensed operation, violating the state's regulations as identified by the Maine Office of Cannabis Policy.

The emergence of these illegal grow operations across the United States has been an ongoing issue for several years. Previous cases include the arrest of a Seattle woman in 2018, which led to the discovery of a marijuana operation with Chinese ties. In Oklahoma, authorities uncovered illegal operations run by individuals from China and Mexico after the state legalized medical marijuana in 2018. The legality of marijuana consumption and cultivation in these states provides a cover for illegal grow operations, which then traffic the marijuana to states where it remains illegal.

U.S. Attorney Darcie McElwee emphasized the importance of thwarting illegal growing operations with international connections in Maine. Law enforcement agencies at local, county, federal, and state levels have united in their efforts to shut down these operations and have already closed down "dozens of operations" over the past few months.

Law enforcement officials were able to identify the Passadumkeag operation by scrutinizing the high electricity consumption of the property, along with its concealed windows covered in cardboard. Utility bills showed that after the home was purchased for $125,000 in cash, the electricity use skyrocketed from approximately $300 a month to a staggering nearly $9,000. This excessive usage indicated the presence of heat pumps, costly lighting equipment, and other tools necessary for marijuana cultivation.

As the investigations progress, law enforcement agencies aim to determine the masterminds behind these operations and trace the profits made from the illicit activities. The involvement of foreign nationals using Maine properties for unlicensed marijuana operations and interstate distributions necessitates a coordinated effort between federal, state, and local authorities to eradicate these operations, according to U.S. Attorney McElwee.

The bust of the illicit grow operation in rural Maine serves as a reminder that despite state-level legalization, there remains a pressing need to target and dismantle illicit marijuana operations that seek to exploit the system for personal gain.