A horseman convicted of trafficking 'astronomical' amounts of ephedrine was sentenced to a lengthy prison term

today.

According to a report by buffalonews.com, horsemen Hugh M. Stevens of Derby, New York was today sentenced to 20 years in United States federal prison. The article states that when he was arrested in 2004, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agents called him the transportation coordinator of one of North America's biggest methamphetamine rings.

The article states that the trafficking of the mass amounts of ephedrine was done through the use of horse trailers. The report cites an incident which took place July 10, 2004 as a key moment in breaking the case. According to authorities, on that date a harness racing participant apparently hired by Stevens was caught at the Lewiston-Queenston Bridge with 430 pounds of ephedrine hidden in his trailer with a horse.

U.S. authorities have estimated that the amount of ephedrine Stevens shipped could have been used to make more than 1,350 pounds of methamphetamine.

(With files from buffalonews.com)