Crime Vietnamese gang arrested over marijuana plantations

As part of a year-long investigation, law enforcement has arrested six Vietnamese individuals for allegedly cultivating and possessing approximately 2,000 marijuana plants across Ibaraki, Saitama, and Chiba prefectures. Police report that a 450-square-meter warehouse in Koga City, Ibaraki Prefecture, was used by the suspects as one of Japan's largest marijuana growing operations. The interior was outfitted with lights and blowers for cultivation, and whiteboards surrounded the perimeter to obscure the view from outside. In April, Saitama Prefectural Police seized around 1,500 plants and arrested six Vietnamese nationals on suspicion of violating the Cannabis Control Law. The suspects are accused of cultivating and possessing marijuana for sale at the warehouse.

The six are believed to be a part of a marijuana trafficking group. The ring surfaced when plants were discovered after a fire broke out inside another warehouse in Kazo City, Saitama Prefecture in May of last year. [...] Thus far, police have seized approximately 2,000 marijuana plants with a street value of 500 million JPY

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Here in Maine , about 5 illegal grow houses caught so far trace back to Chinese ownership.