Illicit Marijuana Grow Operations Linked to Chinese Communist Party Front Group
A recent investigation has uncovered a web of illegal marijuana grows in rural Maine, with ties to a Chinese Communist Party (CCP) front group responsible for intelligence gathering and foreign influence operations. The Daily Caller News Foundation found that two men charged with running the illegal farm are leaders of the Sijiu Association of New York, a Brooklyn-based nonprofit that works closely with the New York Chinese Consulate and the United Front Work Department (UFWD).
The Sijiu Association has been linked to multiple illegal marijuana grows in Maine, with police raids recovering hundreds of pounds of cultivated marijuana and thousands of cannabis plants. The organization’s leaders have also been accused of selling marijuana and using it to fund their operations.
The investigation found that the Sijiu Association’s ties to the UFWD are extensive, with several officials belonging to UFWD branches and the organization agreeing to fund UFWD projects. The UFWD is responsible for intelligence gathering and foreign influence operations, and its activities are often shrouded in secrecy.
The Sijiu Association’s leaders have also been linked to the Chinese government, with one official shaking hands with Xi Jinping during a conference in Beijing. The organization’s chairman has also participated in UFWD events and signed agreements with UFWD subordinate units to fund CCP investment initiatives.
The investigation suggests that the Sijiu Association’s illegal marijuana grows may be part of a larger scheme to generate revenue for the CCP and its influence operations. The organization’s ties to the UFWD and the Chinese government make it a key player in the CCP’s efforts to exert influence over Chinese-American communities in New York and elsewhere.
The investigation also raises concerns about the impact of the illegal marijuana grows on local communities in Maine. Police have reported that the illegal grows are causing significant public health and safety issues, and that the illegal competition is driving legitimate marijuana businesses out of business.
The Sijiu Association has denied any involvement in illegal activities, and its leaders have pleaded not guilty to the charges against them. However, the investigation suggests that the organization’s ties to the CCP and its involvement in illegal activities are significant and warrant further investigation.
