A Massachusetts man last month bought the Epsom house where the police found nearly $7 million in marijuana plants Thursday, according to public records.

The man, identified as Chamber Tran of Revere, Mass., bought the tan, ranch-style house at 35 Woodcote Drive on Oct. 23, according to the deed. The police said they found nearly 1,400 marijuana plants in the house's basement last week. They also found growing materials and equipment - fertilizer, lights, buckets, fans, sump pumps and electrical cords - worth about $200,000. It was the largest single seizure of marijuana plants in New Hampshire's history, said Sgt. Ellen Arcieri of the New Hampshire State Police.

The police have yet to make any arrests in connection with the raid, Epsom Police Chief Wayne Preve said.

A phone call to a number listed under Tran's name went to an answering machine for the Lenox, Mass., Chamber of Commerce. Chamber member John Catalano said he'd never heard of Tran.

Tran bought the house for $430,000 and took out a $344,000 mortgage, the records said.

David Menard, the previous owner, said he only met the homebuyer once, for less than 10 minutes, to close the sale. Tran was dropped off in a car and also rode with the Realtor when Tran came to Epsom, Menard said.

"It was kind of interesting," said Menard, who owns a Hooksett painting company. "I thought my Realtor had said he had a flooring business in the basement. . . . I run a business, and I don't think I could see how I could operate a business 60 miles away."

Since the bust, Menard has had to tell people that he's already moved to Pittsfield.

"It's unbelievable," he said. "I could see it, though. You've got to find inconspicuous places to do that kind of business so you don't get caught, like a house in a rural setting. We felt bad about the neighbors but also kind of happy they got caught right away."

The police found the plants thanks to a neighbor who lost her power. Jessica Towne, also of Woodcote Drive, said she lost electricity at her house Wednesday night, prompting her to call her power company, Unitil. The company found Tran's house was draining power from the neighborhood, and it told the police, she said.

The police searched the house Thursday and found the plants and the equipment in the basement and in closets.

Menard's Realtor, John MacGilvary, said he couldn't talk about the sale, because he had received a subpoena. MacGilvary acknowledged he was surprised by the news.

"In a way, it's kind of neat, but it's kind of sad at the same time that this kind of stuff is happening here in New Hampshire," he said.

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By WALTER ALARKON

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