Oh, you can't say THAT!

nothing to see here

The proliferation of illegal marijuana grow operations in Maine has been gaining national attention thanks to The Maine Wire’s investigative reporting [Triad Weed: State Law Enforcement, Feds Struggle to Clamp Down on Illegal Chinese Drug Operations in Maine] but at least one of the state’s finest wants to keep one part of the narrative hidden: the nationality of the illegal “immigrants” who are running the places.

Penobscot County Sheriff Troy Morton Tells Fox News’ Laura Ingraham to Hide The Fact That 270+ Illegal Marijuana Grows in Maine Are Run by Chinese Organized Crime

The Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office has said it is investigating the illegal Marijuana grow facilities that have proliferated throughout northern Maine.

But Sheriff Troy Morton would prefer the media not mention the fact that these facilities are operated by what the Department of Homeland Security describes as Asian Transnational Criminal Organizations (ATCOs).

The Penobscot Sheriff’s department was asked for comment by Fox News for the Laura Ingraham Show in advance of an interview with Steve Robinson, Editor-in-Chief of the Maine Wire.

“I respectfully request that you not indicate that these illegal operations are being operated by any certain demographic,” said Sheriff Morton.

Morton attempted to justify his request that Ingraham ignore that the crimes are being perpetrated by Chinese nationals, some of whom are naturalized U.S. citizens or asylum seekers.

“The issue should remain these are illegal and dangerous operations, not who is operating them,” Morton said.

Robinson disagreed.

“According to the department of Homeland security, some of the money that is generated from this activity is sent back to the People’s Republic of China to fund other illicit activities,” Robinson said.

“So I think the nationality and connections to a hostile foreign government are kind of a big part of the story,” he said.

… The Maine Wire’s investigation into illegal marijuana facilities has uncovered over 100 properties in Maine purchased by Chinese nationals since late 2019, almost all of whom are from New York and Massachusetts.

On Tuesday, local police raided one of the illegal Chinese grow facilities in Wilton at the location of the former Bass Shoe factory. Although law enforcement seized and destroyed over $1,000,000 worth of illicit marijuana, no arrests were made.

Reminds me of that scandalous cover-up of the identity of the Korean airline crew members who crashed their plane in San Francisco in 2013; the intrepid reporters and their news editor were all fired after they bravely went on the air with the story. Terrible.