Brooklyn man arrested in unlicensed marijuana cultivation facility in Amsterdam

AMSTERDAM, NY (NEWS10) — A Brooklyn man has been arrested in connection with an unlicensed marijuana cultivation facility in Amsterdam. Chuanjin Sun, 53, faces several charges.

According to the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, a resident’s tip about a building on Chapman Drive in Amsterdam led to an investigation. Officials say the investigation began after a resident claimed there was a strong odor of cannabis coming from the building.

On Thursday, the City of Amsterdam Fire Inspector requested assistance from the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and found that a large-scale cannabis cultivation operation was being conducted at the facility. Officials said Sun, the owner of the building, was growing large quantities of cannabis for distribution throughout the state.

Deputies say the Office of Cannabis Management confirmed that Sun did not have legal permission from the state to operate. The fire inspector and sheriff’s office investigators seized over 2,200 two- to three-foot-tall cannabis plants from the building.

Fees:

• Criminal possession of cannabis in the first degree (possession of more than 10 pounds)
• Illegal cannabis cultivation

Sun was arrested and transported to the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office. He was arraigned in Amsterdam Municipal Court. He was released on bail.