Police: 300 marijuana plants seized from Carver home converted into grow house

CARVER, Mass. — An entire house that was converted into a large scale marijuana growing operation with more than 300 plants was discovered early Wednesday, and the tenant arrested, after the owner of the home alerted police that illegal activity was happening on the property, according to officials.

After getting the tip from the homeowner, Carver Police and the Plymouth County Sheriff's office got a warrant to search the home on Bisbee Drive and found it had been converted into a marijuana growing operation, according to a news release.

Police arrested the tenant, 41-year-old Xiaofeng Mai, of North Providence, Rhode Island, on felony charges of cultivating more than 12 marijuana plants with the intent to distribute, conspiracy; and operating a motor vehicle on a suspended license.

While it's legal to grow up to 12 marijuana plants for personal use in Massachusetts, Carver Police said Mai was not licensed by the Cannabis Control Commission to cultivate the more than 300 plants they seized.

Donna O'Connell, who has lived next door to the house for about 25 years, said she usually only saw Mai once or twice a week and thought it was strange. Her husband suspected it was a grow house, she said.

"The entire house was converted into a grow facility," said Carver Police Chief Marc Duphily, noting it was no longer a home inside.

Officials were seen carrying trash bags filled with suspected marijuana from the home after the bust.

Mai was arraigned Wednesday in Wareham District Court where he was released on $500 bond. He has been ordered to surrender his passport, have GPS monitoring, and live with his brother in Braintree.

Cox Media Group