Police raid marijuana facility in Farmington

FARMINGTON — Marijuana plants were seen being tossed out of the back of the Narrow Gauge Distributors “Keeping the Supply High” building at 374 High St. Tuesday morning after a large number of law enforcement agents converged on the building.

The officials, who included FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Maine State Police and sheriff’s department, focused on several others businesses in the area as well, including The Homegrown Connection on Wilton Road.

According to the Narrow Gauge Distributors website, it is “the largest cannabis distribution company in Maine. Narrow Gauge is known as a pioneer in the field of cannabis, CBD, cultivation, and research and development.”

The FBI, DEA and law enforcement partners were conducting an ongoing federal investigation at multiple locations in Maine, including Farmington, FBI spokeswoman Kristen Setera said Tuesday. The “activities” were authorized by a federal court in connection to the investigation. She did not offer any more information on the activities or whether arrests had been made.

At about 9 a.m., authorities had gathered at Narrow Gauge, a former shoe shop on the corner of High Street and Cascade Leisure Park Road, and could be seen going in and out of the building. More than 14 state police cruisers were parked at the location, as well as unmarked vehicles from several New England states.

At noon, authorities could be seen piling what appeared to be marijuana plants outside the back of the building. Prior to that, law enforcement agents were at a building on Front Street and one on Farmington Falls Road.

In the early afternoon, agents were carrying armloads of large marijuana plants into a truck behind the building. Other evidence was loaded into a U-haul.

U.S. Assistant Attorney Craig Wolff said Tuesday he could not comment on an ongoing investigation.

Law enforcement personnel load boxes of evidence into the back of a truck at the Narrow Gauge Distributors “Keeping the Supply High” building at 374 High St. in Farmington on Tuesday. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

Maine State Police officers block access to the area behind the Narrow Gauge Distributors “Keeping the Supply High” building at 374 High St. in Farmington while marijuana plants are loaded into a shipping container, at left, on Tuesday afternoon. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

A police officer adjusts his face mask at the Narrow Gauge Distributors “Keeping the Supply High” building at 374 High St. in Farmington on Tuesday. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

Law enforcement personnel gather near trucks that were used to store evidence at the Narrow Gauge Distributors “Keeping the Supply High” building at 374 High St. in Farmington on Tuesday. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

The Narrow Gauge Distributors “Keeping the Supply High” building is next to the Farmington Fairgrounds. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

State Police vehicles and unmarked cars are seen in the parking lot of the former shoe factory on Cascade Leisure Park Road in Farmington. Donna Perry/Sun Journal