U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R) grilled FBI Director Christopher Wray Tuesday over the ties between the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and Chinese organized crime networks in Maine.
“What is the FBI’s theory about why Chinese nationals or Chinese transnational criminal organizations are setting up these illegal marijuana growing operations in states like Maine?” Sen. Collins asked Director Wray.
Wray answered that foreign organized crime networks are likely setting up illicit marijuana cultivation and trafficking operations because it’s lucrative and low-risk.
“[O]ur assessment is that it’s a combination of the fact that it is activity that can be done relatively cheaply, and by comparison to other drugs in the United States, the consequences that they face from a legal perspective are not as severe as that they might be in other countries where they might also want to operate,” Wray said.
Wray said that the FBI is increasingly seeing Chinese organized crime move into tribal lands, as well.
In 2022, Collins was the first Maine official to publicly call for an investigation into Chinese mafia drug trafficking in Maine.
In a letter to the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency (MDEA) Director, Collins urged state authorities to investigate the issue.
Despite the more than 40 search warrants that have been executed at properties throughout Maine linked to the criminal networks, the Maine State Police have rarely been involved in the enforcement activities and have refused to comment publicly on the phenomenon.
Likewise, Gov. Janet Mills (D) has remained totally silent, refusing even to comment on her brother, Paul H. Mills, serving as the title transfer attorney on behalf of an illegal marijuana grow now owned by a Chinese national living in China.
Since 2022, Collins has continued to press federal authorities for assistance, including penning two letters to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland.
Collins also solicited and received a comprehensive briefing from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Administrator on the agency’s ongoing efforts to crack down on the illegal drug hubs.
Earlier this year, Collins questioned Garland, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and leaders in the U.S. intelligence community about the potential involvement of the Chinese government in these operations.
According to Wray, the FBI has yet to discover any clear links between the activities of Chinese organized crime in Maine and the government of China.
<span class="dsq-postid" data-dsqidentifier="28397 https://www.themainewire.com/?p=28397">10 Comments
Once again, Sen. Collins comes to our rescue for brilliantly exposing the threat of Islamic terrorism and trans-National Chinese organized crime. Did she give a kiss to Wray after the clip? These people are such a bad joke it boggles the mind.
Hey Susie, look in the mirror hour open border policies are what is causing this. How many Mainers have been killed by your refusal along with Golden, Pingree and King, to secure our borders.
Collins Political; Theatre “Take #2” Are we supposed to believe that Melvin Purvis is going suddenly do the Big Bust Now? She asks the same BS questions and he give the same BS Answers. I’ll believe this when I see Hunter Biden in an Orange Jump suit that never seems to happen. BTW Melvin would have shut down the Entire operation over a year ago.
I think Collins has been toking too much of that illegal Chinese weed.
She better hope the dems bail her out next election, no republican would ever vote for her again.
Way too little, way too late as always.
susan commie collins voted to impeach trump and give trans men medals for wearing a dress. Anyone that supports collins is a gay jew lover.
She should know all about organized crime, being that her family/bloodline is one of the ‘original 13’ that’s been operating at high levels of exactly that for hundreds of years.
So incredibly sad… what’s become of this once great State….
Collins is not your friend. She is anti heterosexual white male.
Coincidentally, infidels are also anti heterosexual as per the NT. Infidel is the word used to describe homosexual Christian’s. So sad.
Seriously can anyone give me something of actual value that Collins has every accomplished ? Don’t say voting for a Supreme Court Justice Nominee she votes for everyone of them . She has ZERO Private Sector Experience much less achievement…A Complete Paper Tiger…