Case Explained: FBI investigates Fairfield cannabis shop previously tied to Chinese organized crime – Legal Perspective

FAIRFIELD — Federal agents were investigating a medical cannabis shop Wednesday that has previously been tied to Chinese organized crime groups.

About a dozen unmarked cruisers were on scene as several agents appeared to be executing a search warrant at the business at 201 Norridgewock Road, also known as Route 104.

The Fairfield business’ signs only say “Medical Cannabis.” The business is technically called Y&Z Grow and was formerly known as Yezi Craft Cannabis, according to town tax records and filings with the Maine Office of Cannabis Policy.

Agents were seen outside speaking with three or four people who came out of the shop. At least two were taken into handcuffs and taken away in an unmarked vehicle.

It was not clear which agency was in charge of the investigation, as agents were in plain clothes, but it appeared the FBI was in charge. At least one had a vest that indicated he was with the FBI.

Fairfield police Capt. Paul St. Amand, who was on scene, said the FBI notified the Fairfield Police Department of the investigation. He said he was there only to assist with scene security and had no further details.

“The FBI was on scene conducting court authorized activity,” Kristen Setera, a spokesperson for the FBI Boston field office, said via email. “Beyond that, we’re going to decline further comment at this time.”

Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Lizotte, a spokesperson for the office of Maine U.S. Attorney Andrew Benson, said federal prosecutors were unable to comment Wednesday afternoon.

Chief Deputy Mike Mitchell of the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office, which executed two dozen search warrants at illegal marijuana growing operations in 2024 and 2025, said his agency was not involved in Wednesday’s law enforcement activity.

An investigation by the Portland Press Herald last year found Y&Z Grow’s owners are tied to a web of legal and illegal cannabis growers allegedly associated with Chinese organized crime groups, which have taken a growing foothold in Maine’s cannabis market as they transition illicit grows into the state’s legal markets.

Inspections by the state Office of Cannabis Policy in 2022 found the Fairfield facility, then known as Yezi Craft Cannabis, was storing weed in trash bags, employing unlicensed growers and not keeping track of its sales. Yezi was raided and shut down by police later that year.

The dispensary’s owner told investigators he had been doing business with what regulators later described as an “organized criminal enterprise” run by out-of-state Chinese growers.

Federal and local officials have said there are hundreds of similar illegal growing operations in Maine connected to Chinese organized crime.

St. Amand said he was told that U.S. Immigration and Customs and Enforcement was not the agency leading the investigation. Several people stopped at the shop Wednesday midday to ask if the agents were with ICE. Others were customers looking to see if the business was open.

ICE has had an increased presence in Maine in recent days. An ICE official said in an interview on Fox News that officers had identified more than 1,000 targets in Maine and made 50 arrests Tuesday.

This is a developing story.