Senator Collins Questions U.S. Attorney General on Federal Response to Illegal Marijuana Grows in Maine
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Washington, D.C. – At a hearing to review the Fiscal Year 2026 budget request for the U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Appropriations Committee, questioned Attorney General Pam Bondi on how federal law enforcement is supporting the efforts of state, county, and local law enforcement to combat illegal Chinese marijuana growing operations in Maine.
Q&A on Illegal Marijuana Grows:
Senator Collins:
Let me turn to just one other issue. It's one that we discussed prior to your confirmation, in which I described to you a very serious problem in Maine, Oklahoma, and some other states, and that is the proliferation of illegal marijuana growing operations that are connected to transnational Chinese criminal organizations.
When I raised this issue with the FBI Director before this subcommittee in May, he testified that the FBI planned to direct more resources to the field in Maine and to increase intelligence collection in D.C. to target these illegal grow operations that are producing tainted marijuana, that are destroying the houses in which these grow operations occur, and I'm convinced, are involved in human trafficking as well, because who would want to work in a grow operation with black mold and other dangerous substances everywhere?
I'm also convinced from some of the charges, and there has been an improvement with this Administration over the previous ones, that money laundering is occurring and that it is likely linked to the fentanyl trade as well.
Could you provide me with an update on the deployment of federal resources so that our sheriffs, which have led the way, and our state and local law enforcement in Maine, get the help that they need?
I will say the IRS criminal investigation and Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) at Treasury have been helpful, but we do need more help from the Justice Department.
Attorney General Bondi:
Senator, thank you. First to the issue regarding the Chinese marijuana growers. One of the first things I did was meet with [FBI] Director Patel about that, I met with DEA about that, and ATF about that, because it all goes together as we discussed. I thought you were going to receive a briefing on that, if not, we will make sure you receive one in a classified setting…
But I can tell you that we are directly involved in many of those cases. We are looking at that closely, and we will continue to fight that and research that. And that was something else that I learned about in Maine from my very first meeting with you, but we have had multiple discussions about it, and there are active, ongoing investigations regarding that issue.
Senator Collins:
Thank you, and I look forward to having that briefing.
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In response to concerns raised by constituents in 2022, Senator Collins sent a letter to the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) Director requesting that appropriate action be taken to address illegal growing operations in Maine. Since then, Senator Collins and the Maine Delegation sent letters to the former U.S. Attorney General in August 2023 and January 2024 urging the Department of Justice (DOJ) to shut down these operations. In the fall of 2023, she received a briefing on the U.S. DEA’s efforts. In February 2024, Senator Collins joined a bipartisan, bicameral letter requesting a briefing on the DOJ’s efforts. At the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence’s annual worldwide threats open hearing last year, Senator Collins questioned the former FBI Director on how the FBI is supporting state, local, and county officials. She then questioned the former Attorney General on this topic at an Appropriations hearing in April 2024. Senator Collins also questioned the former Secretary of State on the Government of China’s potential involvement. In response to a similar line of questioning in June 2024, former FBI Director Wray confirmed a connection between the illegal grow operations and Chinese organized crime. This year, Senator Collins has continued to sound the alarm on this issue, including at hearings with Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and FBI Director Kash Patel.
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