CORNVILLE, Maine (WGME) — The Somerset County Sheriff’s Office says it seized nearly 1,500 marijuana plants from a home in Cornville.
Deputies carried out a drug search warrant at a home on West Ridge Road around 1 p.m. on Wednesday.
During the search of the home and garage, 1,497 growing marijuana plants, approximately 53 pounds of processed marijuana, $1,800 in cash, and more were seized.
Authorities arrested 52-year-old Yihui Chen and 46-year-old Shubing Gao, both of New York. The pair was charged with unlawful trafficking in scheduled drugs and cultivation of marijuana (over 500 plants).
Chen and Gao were taken to the Somerset County Jail where their bail was set at $15,000 each.
This was the 22nd drug search warrant executed by the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office between January and December 2024 in connection with illegal marijuana growing operations.
Search warrants have been executed in Cornville, Norridgewock, Madison, Anson, Solon, Harmony, Ripley, St. Albans, Skowhegan, and Canaan.
So far, 13 people have been arrested and charged with illegal marijuana plant cultivation activities.
As a result of these searches, deputies say approximately 28,000 marijuana plants, approximately 250 pounds of processed marijuana, approximately $50,000 in cash, and five motor vehicles believed to have been used in the illegal marijuana grow operations have been seized.
Authorities continue to investigate illegal grow operations across rural Maine, many with alleged links to Chinese organized crime.
The Somerset County Sheriff’s Office says it seized nearly 1,500 marijuana plants from a home in Cornville. Read More
