Somerset Sheriff Busts Illicit Drug House in St. Albans Next to Daycare

The Somerset County Sheriffs’ Office on Thursday executed a search warrant at a suspected illicit marijuana grow located at 71 Denbow Road in St. Albans, according to residents in St. Albans who observed the operation.

In July 2020, the property was purchased by Yuting Lum of Middle Village, NY; however, Lum sold the house in April 2022 to Kai Hua Zhang of Staten Island, NY.

Somerset County Sheriff Dale Lancaster released the following press release Thursday afternoon:

On Thursday, May 30, 2024 at approximately 0945 am, the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Division executed a drug search warrant at a private residence, which is located on the Denbow Road in St. Albans.

The search warrant was obtained after months-long investigation into illegal marijuana plant cultivation activities allegedly taking place at the residence. Lt. Detective Carl Gottardi II led a team of four Sheriff’s Office Detectives, a Sheriff’s Office Patrol Deputy, two Waterville Police Department Detectives, two Agents from Homeland Security Investigations and two Investigators from the Maine Office of Cannabis Policy. The Somerset County District Attorney’s Office and the United States Attorney’s Office assisted with the investigation.

When the search warrant was executed, no persons were located at the residence. During the search of the residence/property over 200 mature growing marijuana plants, evidence of over approximately 1500 recently harvested marijuana plants, over 30 pounds of processed marijuana and illicit drug-related materials were seized. Criminal charges will be forthcoming against those persons responsible for the illegal marijuana plant cultivation/marijuana plant processing activities that have been taking place at the residence.

The St. Albans Code Enforcement Officer was called to the scene of the search, due to hazardous materials/conditions located at the residence, such as black mold infestation, plumbing, and electrical wiring issues. The residence searched is located in close proximity to a registered day care.

The Somerset County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Division has executed 18 drug search warrants since mid-January of 2024 to date, on suspected illegal marijuana plant cultivation locations, in the Towns of Skowhegan, Cornville, Mercer, Norridgewock, Solon, Madison, Harmony, and St. Albans, with 11 persons being arrested and charged with the illegal marijuana plant/trafficking activities.

Triad Weed in Maine

Last year, the leak of a Department of Homeland Security memo, first reported by Jennie Taer, brought to light the existence of more than 270 properties in Maine involved in illegal marijuana cultivation and trafficking.

According to the memo, the properties were controlled by Asian Transnational Criminal Organizations with ties to human trafficking, fentanyl trafficking, and activities in mainland China.

Since that time, the Maine Wire has identified and reported on the locations of hundreds of properties throughout rural Maine suspected of operating as as part of this network of organized crime, more than 30 raids conducted since December.

Throughout this reporting, Gov. Mills and Maine State Police Commissioner Michael Sauschuck have refused to comment on the subject. While every member of Maine’s Congressional Delegation has asked the U.S. Department of Justice multiple times to crack down on the illegal cannabis sites, Mills has yet to comment.