Drug trafficking offences are incredibly serious, and as such, the associated penalties and charges can be substantial. Those who are facing drug trafficking charges will require the support of an expert solicitor, to ensure a robust defence and representation.
If you are facing such charges, you might well be wondering whether they can be dropped. In this article we’ll explore the answer to that question, along with potential defences, and where you can go to get support.
If you wish to talk to someone immediately about drug trafficking offences, please get in touch with Conspiracy Solicitors today.
What is drug trafficking?
Essentially, drug trafficking can include various different drugs-based offences, usually involving one or a combination of the following actions: manufacturing, cultivating, supplying, importing and or selling drugs. The term drug trafficking may also be applied in situations where individuals or groups have illegally transported or sold prescription drugs.
If you’ve been accused of drug trafficking, it’s important to know that it’s a serious charge, and that you’ll need to access legal support right away.
What are the charges for drug trafficking?
Sentences for drug trafficking vary according to the class of drugs. For instance:
- An unlimited fine, a maximum of life imprisonment, or both, for Class A drugs
- An unlimited fine, a maximum of 14 years imprisonment, or both, for Class B and Class C drugs
However, sentencing is not just dependent on the class of drugs. It also varies according to the extent to which the defendant was involved, and how.
Possessing drugs in a quantity that exceeds what is considered typical of personal use can also incur serious charges. For example, ‘possession with intent to distribute’.
What does possession with intent to distribute mean?
Possession with intent to distribute means that the defendant has been caught possessing a controlled drug, and that there is evidence to demonstrate the defendant was intending to pass the drug to a person without the legal right to have that substance.
For more information of different types of drug offences, contact our team at Conspiracy Solicitors.
What does the Court consider when determining drug trafficking offences?
When the Court is determining which sentence to serve for drug trafficking, the decision they receive is likely to depend on.
- The precise nature of the offence
- The duration of the criminal operation
- The class and quantity of the substance(s)
- If the defendant has committed other crimes or not
Can drug trafficking charges be dropped?
So long as you have a strong defence for your case, it is possible for drug trafficking charges to be dropped. If you’ve been accused of drug trafficking, it’s important that you get in touch with an expert drugs trafficking defence solicitor as soon as you can.
Depending on the circumstances, your solicitor may be able to build the following defences:
- Defence of reasonable doubt: a solicitor may be able to build a defence around the idea that the wrong person has been arrested. It could be that the individual was involved at some level, but that they are not a drug trafficker.
- Defence of no knowledge: In some cases, the individual who was arrested for possession or drug trafficking may have been unaware. The individual may have been led to believe that they were transporting a legal substance. Alternatively, the drugs may have been planted on them or their possessions, without them knowing.
What does the Crown Prosecution Service consider when dropping criminal charges?
There are many reasons why the Crown Prosecution Service and or the police might drop criminal charges like drug trafficking. For instance, if there is a lack of evidence to prove that the defendant was involved in the drug trafficking operation.
Drugs charges might also be dropped where evidence against the defendant was illegally gained or if moving forward with prosecution would not be considered in the interest of the public.
When deciding whether or not to drop charges, the CPS is also likely to consider matters such as the culpability of the defendant, the severity of the offence, and potentially the age of the defendant.
Under certain circumstances, and with the support of legal experts, there is every chance to ensure that drug charges are dropped. For the best chance of success, you are advised to start working with an expert criminal lawyer as soon as possible.
What happens if you are arrested for drug trafficking?
If you are arrested by customs or the police, they will take you into custody, and soon after, will proceed to interview you.
At this stage you will need to choose if you would like a duty solicitor to represent you, or an expert drug trafficking defence solicitor. It is not advised that you speak to the authorities about your case without first having representation and legal advice.
What should you do if you’ve been charged with drug trafficking?
If you’ve been charged with drug trafficking, you should contact Conspiracy Solicitors, for outstanding legal expertise and representation. We have a fantastic success rate in assisting clients to get drug charges reduced or dropped.
Unless you have support immediately, you might make your situation worse, for example by accidentally incriminating yourself further. It’s crucial that you get advice on your legal rights, and what you should or shouldn’t share during any interview with the authorities.
What happens when you’re charged with drug trafficking?
If you are facing drug trafficking charges, the authorities will give you a charge sheet, which provides details about the charges you are facing. The police will make a decision with regards to whether you will be released on bail. If you are not released, you will have to remain in custody until your given Court date, and if you are released, you may leave and attend Court on this given date.
You may attend the Magistrates Court. However, if your case is more serious, it may later be heard at the Crown Court.
What is the minimum sentence for drug trafficking?
It is hard to determine what the minimum sentence might be, as every case has different circumstances. The outcome is largely dependent on the class of drugs, and the defendants’ role in the operation. For instance, an individual involved in a low-level Class C drugs operation might receive a community order, and nothing more.
How do you get drug trafficking charges dropped?
To get drug charges dropped, you’ll need to get in touch with an expert solicitor as soon as you can. Our solicitors can assist you no matter the type of charges you are facing, assessing your case, and educating you on your options.
If you want to ensure that your charges are reduced or even dropped altogether, please contact us using the details below.
How can our drug solicitors help?
Conspiracy Solicitor is a trading style of Bird & Co Solicitors LLP, a firm that has been established in the East Midlands for more than three decades, working with clients across the country.
Our criminal defence team is led by Christopher Milligan. The team have over 200 years of combined experience and expertise, including extensive work on drug trafficking cases.
As a firm, we are accredited by the Law Society for Criminal Litigation, recognising our expertise in all areas of criminal prosecutions.
If you are accused of a drug trafficking charge, our team can provide straightforward advice and guidance that ensures you have the strongest possible defence, while also ensuring you are clear on the details of your case at all times.
With our support, you can be certain that we will find the right strategy for your case so that you are able to achieve the best possible result, no matter what your circumstances may be.
Get in touch with Conspiracy Solicitor today
At Conspiracy Solicitor we have ample experience supporting and defending clients who’ve been accused of drug trafficking, including cultivation, possession, production, and importation.
Our drug trafficking defence lawyers can assist you during the investigation stages, including support in any interviews with the authorities, and representing you during Court proceedings.
We appreciate that being charged with drug trafficking is extremely daunting, and you are likely to be feeling concerned about your future. Our solicitors ensure a sensitive and practical approach, making certain that you understand your options and what will happen at each stage.
To discuss your case today, please contact one of our experts by using our simple contact form to request a call back or contacting us on one of the following numbers:
- Call 0333 009 5968 – for standard enquiries during office hours
- WhatsApp 07535 215140 – for 24/7 emergency support including police station representation