Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs) run by Chinese citizens living in the United States have been running illegal marijuana growing operations at more than 100 properties in rural Maine, according to an unclassified memo from the DHS.

Steven Robinson of the Main Wire reports that upon investigating, the properties in question all have similar circumstances: they were purchased by Chinese men or women, have a strong marijuana odor, have trash from commercial growing products, have a large indoor area to grow, the windows are blacked out, they have multiple security cameras, and they have heat pumps that are constantly running.

With recreational marijuana being legalized in Maine in 2020, and federal law enforcement prioritizing the threat of fentanyl, these illegal marijuana operations have been able to take over the recreational marijuana market in Maine. The Maine Legislature is considering a bill that will help state, county, and local law-enforcement efforts to stop the Transnational Criminal Organizations.