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Crime Overview Drug Distribution Or Trafficking

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Drug distribution or trafficking pertains to the selling, transportation, and illegal import of unlawful controlled substances, such as marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamines, heroin and other illegal drugs. It also applies to the illegal distribution of prescription drugs, such as pain killers or sleeping pills. The illegal distribution of prescription drugs often revolves around hydrocodone products and pharmaceutical opiates. Both federal and state laws apply to drug distribution cases. Many state laws are modeled after the federal laws and provide minimum sentencing standards for offenders.

Drug distribution is a felony in the United States, and the laws against drug trafficking provide for lengthy prison terms and hefty fines. However, regardless of these laws, statistically the problem of drug distribution and trafficking is not going away. While the laws are enacted to deter the major drug distribution rings and stop the spread of illegal drugs into our communities, the problem is that most often the smaller operations or the people at the bottom of the distribution chain are the ones being prosecuted. The high-level drug distributors may have international ties, and are not even known to those further down the distribution chain.

Drug trafficking is a more serious crime than drug possession. If you are found in possession of drugs, you could be charged with drug trafficking, if law enforcement believes that you intend to sell the drugs. If you are found with a large amount of drugs or cash at the time of your arrest, it is likely you will be facing drug distribution charges.

Drug trafficking charges can also vary depending on the amount of drugs within your control or possession. The more drugs you have on you, the more serious the charge. If it can be proven that you intended to market drugs to minors, you would also be facing higher penalties. The controversy about drug trafficking laws is that often a petty drug dealer may be facing longer sentence terms than violent criminals. Because of the stringent laws enacted to deter drug distribution, if you are charged with this crime it is important to be represented by a competent criminal defense attorney experienced in drug related offenses.

The penalty for a conviction on charges of federal drug trafficking will vary, depending on the quantity of the controlled substance and the location of the abortive transaction. Additionally, a drug trafficking conviction could also result in denial of federal benefits and/or forfeiture of real estate or personal property.

The problem of illegal drug abuse, sale and manufacturing has called for the cooperation of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has regional enforcement teams across the country, and mobile teams that can move to areas when problems have been found.