HARMONY, Maine — Maine law enforcement officials said they broke up another large-scale, illegal marijuana growing operation in a rural part of the state Tuesday.
The Somerset County Sheriff's Office said it seized 3,400 marijuana plants, $1,882 in suspected drug proceeds, and a 2017 Ford Transit van, among other items, from a residence on Cooley Road in Harmony following a months-long investigation. Dongming Liao, 41, of California, was arrested and charged with felony-level marijuana cultivation.
The sheriff's office called it a "significant" bust and said the residence had a recently upgraded electrical system, similar to other residences in the county that have been used for illegal marijuana grows.
Liao was taken to the Somerset County Jail and his bail was set at $5,000. He was scheduled for an initial court appearance July 3 in the Somerset County Unified Criminal Court.
It was the latest in a series of large-scale marijuana busts in rural Maine. Authorities said the illegal growing operations are tied to Chinese criminal networks.