Chinese Pot-Growing Organization Destroys Eddington Home Cops Say

In what seems to be an almost weekly occurrence these days, authorities say another Maine home has been destroyed by an illegal pot-growing organization from overseas.

The Penobscot County Sheriff's Office released a statement Wednesday afternoon describing the events that led to a heavy police presence on the Cleweyville Road in Eddington earlier that morning.

Get our free mobile app

It all happened around 9 AM, when Penobscot County Sheriff's Deputies, assisted by members of the Homeland Security Investigations team, executed a search warrant at a residence in town.

Eddington Pot Growing Bust 3, Penobscot County Sheriff's Office

According to the Penobscot County Sheriff's Office:

"The warrant was part of an ongoing active investigation into an organized marijuana-growing Chinese organization.

No arrests were made, however, evidence was seized.

The Sheriff’s Office utilized the appropriate level of resources necessary to prevent a danger to the general public.

This investigation continues to demonstrate the dangerous conditions and illegal actions occurring in these residential homes."

Eddington Pot Growing Bust 2, Penobscot County Sheriff's Office

Since 2023, a delegation of Maine Lawmakers (made up of U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King, and U.S. Representatives Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden) has been petitioning the Department of Justice for help cracking down on these illegal growth operations.

In January, they sent another letter explaining the situation, and requesting funding to deal with the estimated 270 suspected grow houses in the state.

Justin Sullivan, Getty Images

"According to the Border Patrol memo, law enforcement in the state have identified 270 suspected properties that have been used as illegal Chinese growing operations, producing an estimated $4.37 billion in revenue. We applaud Maine law enforcement for their continued efforts to investigate and shutdown these illegal operations, and we encourage the Department of Justice (DOJ) and other federal partners to provide additional support for these efforts. These illegal growing operations are detrimental to Maine businesses that comply with State laws, and we urge the DOJ to shut them down."

The Sheriff's Department says no other information will be released at this time.