AUGUSTA – A troubling story has surfaced from rural Maine, putting the spotlight on the state’s political and legal system. Paul H. Mills, a local lawyer and the older brother of Governor Janet Mills, is at the centre of a controversy involving a property transfer linked to an illegal marijuana operation.
Reporters claim the operation is tied to Chinese transnational crime groups. The news, first reported by Steve Robinson of The Maine Wire in partnership with Tucker Carlson’s media team, has stirred national debate and brought attention to questions of oversight, corruption, and the rise of organized crime in rural areas.
Tucker Carlson called the findings “shocking,” as the issue has received little coverage from most media and a limited response from state officials.
In early 2024, Paul Mills prepared tax paperwork for a property sale in Corinna, Penobscot County. The nine-acre property at 51 Cider Hill had been bought by Xiling Ou, a 44-year-old from Malden, Massachusetts, in February 2023.
Just under two weeks after law enforcement raided a nearby illegal cannabis grow, Ou transferred the land to her mother, Xiaoyu Lu, who lives in Foshan City in China’s Guangdong Province. The transfer was notarized in Massachusetts and registered in Maine on March 6, 2024, with Mills named as the attorney who handled the documents.
Maine Wire Investigation
The Maine Wire investigation found this property wasn’t just a home. Local officials and state electrical records confirmed it was used as an unlicensed cannabis grow. Corinna hasn’t approved legal marijuana businesses, so large-scale cannabis farming is illegal there.
When reporters visited, they noted the strong smell of cannabis, and records showed Ou had applied for a heavy-duty electrical upgrade for growing cannabis in May 2023.
Mills told The Maine Wire he didn’t know about illegal activity at the property or about the broader issue of Chinese crime groups in the area. He also said he was unaware of political efforts to block property purchases by foreign nationals from countries like China. Even so, the transaction has drawn attention because of the timing and his relationship to the governor.
The Corinna case appears to be only a small part of a much bigger picture. A leaked memo from Homeland Security says more than 270 illegal cannabis sites tied to Asian crime groups are operating throughout Maine. Profits from these grows are used to fund other crimes, including fentanyl trafficking and human smuggling, with large amounts of money going back to China.
The Maine Wire spent nearly two years investigating, producing the documentary “High Crimes: The Chinese Mafia’s Takeover of Rural America,” with support from Tucker Carlson’s team. The film claims these groups have bought hundreds of properties—including homes, churches, and schools—to set up a black-market marijuana network. The illegal cannabis is often laced with hazardous pesticides shipped from China.
Chinese-Owned Cannabis Operations
Steve Robinson, leading the investigation, described the problem as widespread. He estimated there are 300 to 400 illegal, Chinese-owned cannabis operations in the state. “They’re everywhere,” Robinson said on Carlson’s podcast in July 2025, pointing out the lack of response from both state officials and local media. The documentary reveals how weak cannabis rules in Maine have allowed these groups to flood the market with cheap, unsafe marijuana, hurting local growers and putting consumers at risk from banned chemicals.
The damage goes beyond the industry. Robinson pointed out that the chemicals used in these grows can linger, leaving properties unsafe long after police raids. The flood of illegal cannabis has also hurt Maine’s legal market and created health risks for unsuspecting buyers.
While there’s no direct proof of criminal involvement by Paul Mills, his role in the property sale has fuelled speculation about possible corruption in Maine. Robinson suggested on Carlson’s show that bribes to local officials might be the reason for slow enforcement against these sites. “I’m starting to believe there’s a lot of bribes being paid in the state,” he said, noting different treatment of local and foreign offenders by law enforcement.
Governor Janet Mills has said nothing publicly about her brother’s link to the case or the broader problems with Chinese crime groups in Maine. Her silence stands out, especially since she’s taken strong public positions on other issues like opioid deaths. Critics such as Carlson have called out this lack of response, with Carlson saying, “Things are completely out of control in Maine, obviously.”
The political response has also been weak. In April 2024, Maine’s Democrat-led legislature voted down a Republican bill, LD 2204, that aimed to stop foreign-backed drug trafficking. No Republican senator asked for a roll-call vote, which some saw as a sign of political fear or even complicity.
Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) is one of the few public officials to address the topic. She questioned FBI Director Christopher Wray in June 2024 about the motives behind Chinese crime groups operating in Maine. Wray agreed it was lucrative and low risk but said there was no clear link to the Chinese Communist Party. Still, The Maine Wire found one operation near a U.S. Army base with connections to the Chinese consulate in New York.
The Maine Wire and Carlson Push for Answers
Steve Robinson and The Maine Wire have become the leading voices telling this story, earning praise from Tucker Carlson as “the only journalism in the state.” Their reporting, despite personal risk, has drawn national attention to a problem ignored by much of Maine’s media.
The attention has had a real impact, with the Massachusetts GOP crediting The Maine Wire for prompting a federal raid on Chinese-operated cannabis grows in their state.
Carlson’s platform helped bring this issue to millions through his July 2025 podcast and the “High Crimes” documentary. The interviews with Robinson covered how large and deep the criminal network runs and pointed to both personal and political ties, including the governor’s family. Carlson questioned if federal officials, possibly under a different Justice Department, might be able to crack down on the problem.
Demanding Change
The exposure of Paul H. Mills’ involvement, along with the wider story of Chinese crime groups in Maine, highlights the urgent need for accountability. Governor Mills’ silence leaves many wondering where she stands. Robinson’s findings suggest local officials may be turning a blind eye, and many are frustrated by the lack of action from the Maine State Police.
As Robinson and his team keep digging, the story stands as a warning for both Maine and other rural communities. The unchecked spread of Chinese crime groups, made possible by weak rules and possible corruption, puts local economies, public health, and social trust at risk.
With The Maine Wire and Carlson pressing for answers, pressure is building on state and federal authorities to take action. For now, residents of Maine and across the country wait to see if these revelations will bring the change needed to protect their communities.
For more, watch “High Crimes: The Chinese Mafia’s Takeover of Rural America” at tuckercarlson.com or visit themainewire.com.
