Federal authorities have indicted 15 drug traffickers who were transporting illegal drugs from Mexico and distributing them in Minnesota.
One of the alleged drug traffickers in 45-year-old Minnesota native Clinton James Ward, who has been identified by federal law enforcement as the leader of the operation. Ward was charged with over a dozen drug offenses, along with engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise — which is a charge known colloquially as “the drug kingpin statute,” according to a press conference from Minnesota U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger.
The state attorney went on to explain that Ward was the mastermind of “one of the largest and most prolific drug organizations that has operated in Minnesota.”
Ward is facing a mandatory prison sentence of 20 years just for the criminal enterprise charge, and is also facing a 10-year mandatory minimum sentence for possession with intent to sell. The U.S. Sentencing Guidelines show that, if Ward is convicted on all charges, he could face life in prison.
The rest of the individuals arrested for taking part in the drug trafficking organization are facing a variety of charges, including conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and several possession-related and distribution-related drug offenses. Law enforcement officials report that all the criminals other than Ward were living in and distributing drugs in Minnesota.
Ward was initially arrested for drug charges in 2019, prompting him to flee to Mexico and connect with the Sinaloa and CJNG drug cartels — ultimately building an international drug trafficking organization, according to Luger.
Mexican cartels are responsible for all trafficking and most of the fentanyl that comes into our country.
The drug epidemic is the real pandemic.
It’s time the United States secure our Southern Border and label the cartels for what they actually are- terrorist organizations. pic.twitter.com/5wngQAhg7T
— Isabella Maria DeLuca (@IsabellaMDeLuca) August 26, 2023
The drug kingpin continued to run the vast distribution network for five years, shipping and selling thousands of pounds of methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine. His employees used shipping containers, private vehicles and semi-trailers to transport the illegal drugs from Mexico to Minnesota.
Ward was ultimately captured by Mexican authorities in March and was transferred to FBI custody. During the entire operation, agents seized more than 1,600 pounds of methamphetamine, 30,000 counterfeit fentanyl pills, nine pounds of cocaine, 4.5 pounds of fentanyl, 45 firearms and more than $2.5 million in drug money.
Luger has characterized the trafficking ring as “one of the most sophisticated and significant drug trafficking organizations we have prosecuted.”
The U.S. attorney’s office reported that more than 50 people connected to Ward were charged with drug trafficking-related crimes.
This news comes as drug trafficking has skyrocketed under the Biden-Harris administration’s open border policies, causing thousands of Americans to die every year.
From drug trafficking, murders, and sexual assaults, the Biden administration has allowed not only people who came into our country illegally to stay, but also criminal illegal aliens that are STILL committing crimes. President Biden needs to stop handcuffing @ICEgov and let them… pic.twitter.com/QMcx8rgp5I
— Congresswoman Beth Van Duyne (@RepBethVanDuyne) June 23, 2024
