ASHFIELD — Three Chinese nationals have been arrested in Ashfield after Massachusetts State Police, working in collaboration with the Ashfield and Goshen Police departments, found thousands of marijuana plants and roughly 109 pounds of processed cannabis during a raid of a West Road home.
State Police took Hongxi Chen, 39, from Brooklyn, New York, her husband Jing Hong Chen, 36, from Ashfield, and Huanquan Ye, 53, from Flushing, New York, into custody on Sept. 26 and transported them to the Shelburne State Police barracks for booking. All three defendants have been charged with trafficking more than 100 pounds but less than 2,000 pounds of marijuana and possession of 12 or more marijuana plants.
“During the search, investigators located approximately 2,380 marijuana plants in various stages of growth. The interior of the residence had been extensively modified to accommodate approximately 12 marijuana grow rooms, as well as drying and processing rooms,” State Trooper Daniel Madsen wrote in a police report. “All parties were advised of their Miranda rights and refused to answer any questions at this time.”
According to the police report, both Jing Hong Chen and Hongxi Chen were advised that the Chinese Consulate would be notified of their arrests.
The 366 West Road residence was condemned by the Ashfield health agent, according to a statement published on the Ashfield Police Department’s Facebook page.
“I want to thank the agencies that were involved with this operation, helping to keep our community safe,” Ashfield Police Chief Beth Bezio wrote in the post.
Previous arrests
Although it is currently unclear whether the two cases are related, the FBI arrested six Chinese nationals in July, who are alleged to have been involved in a multimillion-dollar conspiracy to cultivate and distribute marijuana across the Northeast using interconnected grow houses concealed inside single-family properties in Massachusetts and Maine.
Starting in January 2020, the enterprise allegedly operated grow houses in Greenfield, Braintree and Melrose, among other locations. Profits from the marijuana sales were allegedly used to purchase luxury homes, automobiles, jewelry and other items in Massachusetts, along with real estate to expand the enterprise.
The U.S. Department of Justice also alleges that Chinese nationals were smuggled into the country to work in the grow houses without access to their passports until they repaid smuggling debts.
“We arrested members of an alleged Chinese-run drug trafficking organization who are accused of running a massive marijuana cultivation and distribution scheme that has raked in millions and contributed widely to the illegal drug trade here in the Northeast,” Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Division Ted Docks previously wrote in a statement. “This takedown highlights the need for a sustained law enforcement effort, across all levels, to shut down and thoroughly investigate the organized criminal enterprises behind these unlicensed and illegal operations.”
It is alleged that the grow house operators maintained contact with each other through a list of marijuana cultivators and distributors in the region from or with ties to China called the “East Coast Contact List.”