BANGOR, Maine — Chinese workers at several illicit marijuana sites across the state claim they were kidnapped and forced to work without pay in Maine, court documents say.
Reports from two police raids at growing facilities in Kennebec and Penobscot counties over the past several months detail the lives of captive workers with no choice but to grow marijuana in rural Maine.
In late December of last year, police in Kennebec County received a tip from residents at a suspected grow site in the town of China, pleading to be rescued. According to an affidavit, they told police, "We are imprisoned… we were abducted from China, passports were confiscated…. only work but no salary…"
The workers said they had tried to escape, but were beaten. Police arrested three people at the house, charging them with drug trafficking. According to the affidavit, officers didn't find anyone captive or in distress.
In Penobscot County, while searching a property on Main Road in Passadumkeag in February, police interviewed Guanshi Yani, who allegedly said he was taken to Maine against his will after being offered a meal and "pleasure" while at a park in New York.
According to court documents, police ended the interview after Yani was "ranting" about wanting to return home. Police later arrested his boss Xisen Guo, the man Yani said forced him to Passadumkeag, and charged him with trafficking drugs. Court documents in both instances did not show charges related to kidnapping.
These cases, both involving illegal marijuana grows and unwilling employees, have become more of a focus for law enforcement and regulators in recent months.
"We’ve certainly seen an uptick in law enforcement operations and our field investigators assisting," John Hudak, director of Maine’s Office of Cannabis Policy, said Tuesday. "That’s definitely ticked up this calendar year."
This comes as Maine’s congressional delegation pushes the federal government for more resources and aid in combatting illegal growing operations.
Over the last year, the delegation has sent two letters to Attorney General Merrick Garland asking for more help from the U.S. government in combatting the issue. At a hearing last week, Sen. Collins pressed FBI Director Christopher Wray on what the agency is doing to stop illicit cannabis cultivation in Maine.
In both the Passadumkeag raid, and at another raid in Belgrade, the FBI and Department of Homeland Security joined Maine law enforcement in executing a search warrant, according to court documents. In Belgrade, a special agent from the Department of Homeland Security conducted interviews with suspects. In Passadumkeag, a special agent joined in questioning Xisen Guo. It's unclear whether that special agent was federal law enforcement or part of Maine DEA, which also uses that title.
On Tuesday, the FBI declined to tell NEWS CENTER Maine whether they were involved in any investigations. However, U.S. Attorney Darcie McElwee, who is in charge of prosecuting federal crimes in Maine, said in a statement, "our office is diligently working directly with local, state, and federal law enforcement partners in bringing a coordinated response to the illegal marijuana grows operating in Maine."