A St. Albans home previously used by Asian transnational criminal organizations to illicitly grow cannabis was destroyed by fire on Wednesday in a blaze that the Maine Fire Marshal’s Office continues to investigate.
“Fire personnel reported that the residence was heavily involved in fire when they arrived at the scene shortly before 3:00pm,” a Maine Department of Public Safety spokeswoman said.
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“The home was vacant at the time of the fire; however, investigators learned that lawn care work had been conducted at the property the day before the fire was discovered. State Fire Marshal Investigators responded to the scene and conducted an examination of the property,” she said. “Investigators determined that the fire originated on a rear deck area of the residence. The specific cause of the fire remains under investigation.”
Prior to the Somerset County inferno that destroyed what could have been a middle class home, the property was a modest three-bed, two-bath house a short drive from I-95.
According to a list of properties obtained by The Maine Wire that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security suspects of having ties to Asian transnational crime, the Denbow Road house was implicated in a massive illicit cannabis trafficking conspiracy that has spread throughout New England and several western states.
Other public records show the house was originally purchased by Yuting Lum, before he sold it to Kai Hua Zhang on April 11, 2022.
The 2024 property tax commitment book listed Zhang as the owner with a residential address of 51 Tappen Court, Staten Island, N.Y.
Interestingly, records show that Lum bought the property for $42,000 before selling it to Zhang for $30,000.
In May 2024, the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office raided the property on suspicion that it was operating as an illicit drug hub.
The seizure included over 200 mature plants, evidence of roughly 1,500 recently harvested plants, over 30 pounds of processed marijuana, and related materials.
No one was present during the search.
The sheriff’s account cited hazardous conditions, including black mold plus plumbing and electrical issues, and said the property was close to a registered daycare.
Janet destroying the evidence.
Oh well,…..