A man from the Twin Cities and 14 others have been charged concerning what federal law enforcement officials describe as an exceptionally sophisticated international drug trafficking operation.
Clinton James Ward, 45, is potentially facing a lengthy prison sentence for his alleged involvement in a large-scale drug operation that operated out of Mexico and distributed a significant amount of drugs throughout Minnesota, according to Luger.
United States Attorney Andrew Luger, DEA Special Agent in Charge Steven Bell, and FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge Leah Greeves held a joint press conference on Tuesday at the United States District Court in Minneapolis to announce the charges.
On January 4, 2019, Ward was apprehended in the parking lot of a Vadnais Heights motel, where authorities discovered a significant quantity of methamphetamine.
After some time, he escaped to Jalisco, Mexico, where he reportedly established connections with Mexican and American traffickers associated with two of the most dangerous cartels in the country: Cártel de Sinaloa and Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG).
Over five years, Ward is believed to have amassed a significant fortune by bringing fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine into the Twin Cities through a vast network of distributors. According to Luger, this drug operation is considered the most extensive in Minnesota’s history.
Officials have revealed that drugs were transported under Ward’s direction using a variety of methods, including shipping containers, private vehicles, and semi-trucks. These drugs were then divided into smaller quantities and sent to Minnesota.
Local and federal law enforcement were able to gather evidence against Ward and his co-conspirators by intercepting multiple shipments.
Ward was apprehended in Mexico on March 11 by agents from the DEA and FBI. He was sent to the U.S., where he faced charges under the “kingpin statute,” also known as the Continuing Criminal Enterprise Statute (CCE), a rare occurrence for Americans. In addition to that, he is also confronted with various charges related to drugs.
Law enforcement agencies have successfully confiscated a significant amount of illegal substances, counterfeit pills, illicit funds, and firearms from a residence in Mexico. Authorities estimate that the quantity of drugs confiscated is just a small fraction of what has been circulated in recent years.
According to Bell, the amount of meth confiscated is equivalent to 5.8 million dosage units, which means there would be one dose available for every resident of Minnesota. The amount of fentanyl seized is equivalent to 217,000 doses.
Bell announced the dismantling of Ward’s organization on Tuesday. Luger mentioned that 13 out of the 15 individuals who were charged have already been apprehended, while the remaining two are expected to be taken into custody soon.
According to officials, over 50 individuals connected to Ward’s operation have already faced charges for a range of trafficking offenses.
Source: CBS News
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