Authorities seized nearly 1,500 marijuana plants, 53 pounds of processed marijuana, and other items during a drug raid at a property in Cornville on Thursday afternoon, according to the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office.
The raid, conducted around 1 p.m. on West Ridge Road, involved detectives from the sheriff’s office, Waterville Police Department, an agent from the U.S. Border Patrol, and a field investigator from the Maine Office of Cannabis Policy. Officers discovered an extensive indoor marijuana cultivation operation in a detached garage, as well as additional growing activities inside the residence.
Two individuals, both from Brooklyn, New York, were arrested at the scene.
Yihui Chen, 52, and Shubing Gao, 46, were charged with unlawful trafficking in scheduled drugs and cultivation of marijuana, both Class B offenses. Authorities said Chen and Gao had been cultivating more than 500 plants and processing over 20 pounds of marijuana.
According to the Somerset Registry of Deeds, the property at, 235 West Ridge Road, is owned by Jiabin Cui. It was purchased in March 2021.
The property has been on the radar of the federal government as well. The address appears on the list of addresses compiled by the Department of Homeland Security and thought to be involved in Asian Transnational Organized Crime.
Officials also seized $1,800 in cash, drug-related paraphernalia, and a 2017 Toyota van believed to be connected to the operation.
Both suspects are being held at the Somerset County Jail on $15,000 bail each. Their initial court appearances are scheduled for March 5, 2025, at the Somerset County Unified Criminal Court.
This is the latest in a series of crackdowns by the sheriff’s office on illegal marijuana operations.
In 2024, investigators executed 22 drug search warrants in several Somerset County towns, including Cornville, Madison, and Skowhegan.
Since January, the raids have resulted in the seizure of approximately 28,000 marijuana plants, 250 pounds of processed marijuana, $50,000 in cash, and five vehicles.
Thirteen individuals from Maine, New York, Massachusetts, California, and Washington have been arrested in connection with the operations.
0 Comments