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Crime, Law and Justice
Kyra Miles

Feds allege Minnesota man led drug trafficking conspiracy with two Mexican cartels

People stand behind podium
Drug Enforcement Administration special agent Steven T. Bell (center), FBI assistant special agent Leah Greeves (left) and U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger (right) address the case of the cartel-linked Minnesota drug operation on Tuesday at the U.S. Courthouse in Minneapolis.
Kyra Miles | MPR News

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Clinton Ward of Minnesota and 14 co-conspirators were charged Tuesday in what authorities are calling one of the most sophisticated drug trafficking operations in state history.

Ward allegedly led the drug trafficking conspiracy from Mexico where authorities say he worked with two “violent and notorious” drug cartels: Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation.

During a drug bust in March, authorities seized more than 1,600 pounds of meth, 30,000 fentanyl pills and large amounts of cocaine and firearms. That seizure led to the arrest of Ward and others.

“This is one of the largest and most prolific drug organizations that has operated in Minnesota,” said U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger. “With today’s indictment, we seek to hold all 15 members of the organization accountable.”

Two other people involved in the operation have yet to be brought into custody but because of the scale of the drug operation, prosecutors are using the Kingpin Statute for Ward, in hopes of winning a longer prison sentence.

Ward, 45, was originally arrested at a Vadnais Heights motel in 2019, but within weeks of his arrest, he fled to Mexico. According to prosecutors, Ward met up with traffickers there and began transporting large amounts of drugs into the United States and throughout Minnesota using shipping containers and semi-trailers. He was arrested in March in Mexico and later extradited to the U.S.

Steven T. Bell, Drug Enforcement Administration special agent in charge, is relieved charges have been brought.

“It is only by the grace of God and the perseverance of the investigators, most of which are sitting in this room here today, and the dedication of the prosecutor's office that this organization is done,” he said.