Best of The Program | Guests: Lt. Chris Olivarez & Steve Robinson | 1/24/24
Jan 24, 2024
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Glenn Beck demands RNC transparency on bribery attempts. Lt. Chris Olivarez discusses border protection after Supreme Court ruling. Steve Robinson reports on illegal Chinese-owned marijuana cultivation in Maine.
Over 800 Chinese-owned illegal marijuana cultivation sites have been discovered in the United States, with over 270 in Maine, leading to various negative impacts on the local community.
State and federal authorities have shown limited engagement and action in addressing the issue of Chinese-operated grow sites, potentially hindering efforts to dismantle a criminal network with ties to the Communist Party of China and involvement in other illicit activities.
Deep dives
The Main Wire uncovers illegal Chinese-operated marijuana grow sites in Maine
The Main Wire, an investigative news outlet, has discovered over 800 Chinese-owned illegal marijuana cultivation sites operating across the United States, with more than 270 of them located in Maine. These unlicensed grow sites are predominantly operated by Chinese nationals who are illegally present in the country. The Chinese owners purchase properties in Maine and use them to grow large quantities of marijuana, often trafficking the product to black markets where it can fetch higher prices. The operations have significant implications for the quality of life in rural Maine, including increased electricity costs, loss of housing for local families, and potential involvement in other criminal activities like human and narcotics trafficking.
Chinese nationals dominate the illegal marijuana grow sites in Maine
The Chinese nationals operating the illegal marijuana grow sites in Maine are primarily from Brooklyn and Quincy, Massachusetts. They predominantly communicate in Mandarin but have enough English proficiency to interact with grow shops where they procure supplies. These Chinese operators maintain a low profile within the community, rarely appearing outside the grow site locations. However, local law enforcement agencies, like the police and sheriff's departments, are aware of these sites, although prosecutions have been limited. The majority of the properties associated with the grow sites are purchased by Chinese individuals, often without American names appearing on the titles.
Limited response from state and federal authorities
Despite the scale of the illegal Chinese-operated grow sites in Maine, state and federal authorities have shown limited engagement and action. The Governor of Maine, Janet Mills, and her appointed police commissioner have remained silent on the issue. The Congressional delegation did send a letter to the U.S. Attorney General, Merrick Garland, but they received no response. The regulatory focus on fentanyl and the perception of targeting individuals based on race or ethnicity have influenced law enforcement's handling of the issue. This has hindered efforts to address a criminal network that has potential ties to the Communist Party of China.
Money flow and potential criminal activities
The money generated from these illegal Chinese-operated grow sites is believed to flow back to the People's Republic of China, requiring approval from the Chinese government. Additionally, the funds may be used to finance other illicit activities, such as human trafficking and narcotics trafficking. While the full extent of these activities is challenging to ascertain, the Department of Homeland Security suspects involvement in narcotics trafficking, including the distribution of fentanyl. The criminal network's existing infrastructure along the I-95 corridor enables the movement and distribution of illicit products, contributing to their expansion beyond marijuana cultivation.
Audio has leaked of a conversation between Kari Lake and Arizona GOP chairman Jeff DeWit that makes Glenn furious. Glenn demands that the RNC come clean about who “back east” tried to bribe Lake to hold off on her Senate run. Texas DPS spokesperson Lt. Chris Olivarez tells Glenn how Texas is doubling down on protecting the border after the Supreme Court’s razor wire ruling. The Maine Wire editor in chief Steve Robinson joins to report on hundreds of illegal Chinese-owned marijuana cultivation sites popping up in Maine.
