A Twin Cities man was sentenced to more than 20 years in prison earlier this month for his involvement in an international drug trafficking operation.
In March, Clinton James Ward pled guilty in federal court to one count of conspiracy to distribute meth and one count of engaging in a continuing criminal organization. Court records reveal that he was sentenced to 23 years in jail followed by five years of supervised release.
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Ward was originally charged with 19 counts of working with Mexican cartels to smuggle drugs in the United States.
Officials described Ward’s operation as “sprawling” and said it distributed a “truly staggering” number of drugs throughout Minnesota.
Ward allegedly profited millions over five years by importing fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine to the Twin Cities through “an expansive net of distributors” in what officials call the most prolific drug operation in Minnesota history.
According to investigators, drugs were transported under Ward’s command using shipping containers, private vehicles, and semi trucks before being broken down into smaller quantities and delivered to Minnesota.
The DEA and FBI recovered over 1,600 pounds of meth, 30,000 counterfeit fentanyl pills, kilos upon kilos of cocaine, $2.5 million in trafficking earnings, and 45 guns from Ward’s Mexican home. Officials believe the number of drugs collected is insignificant when compared to the amount disseminated.
Ward was apprehended last year in Mexico by DEA and FBI officials. He was extradited to the United States, where he became one of the only Americans to face charges under the “kingpin statute,” also known as the Continuing Criminal Enterprise legislation.
Fourteen other people were charged in connection with the operation.
