Top Issue, MD Drug Trafficking Lawyers Near You
Drug Trafficking Lawyers | Serving Washington, MD
Nationally Recognized Trial Attorney. Unwavering Representation, As If You Are Family. Call Us For Your Drug Case!
Se Habla Español
Free Consultation
Drug Trafficking Lawyers | Serving Baltimore, MD
Maryland's Premier Criminal Defense Firm. Nationally Acclaimed. 40+ Years Of Experience Providing Defense For Drug Violations. Call Now.
Free Consultation
7200 Wisconsin Ave, Suite 500, Bethesda, MD 20814
129 West Patrick Street, Suite 9, Frederick, MD 21701
6404 Ivy Ln, Ste 408, Greenbelt, MD 20770
200A Monroe Street, Suite 305, Rockville, MD 20850
110 North Washington Street, Suite 502, Rockville, MD 20850-2044
5407 Water St, Suite 205, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772
3475 Leonardtown Rd, Suite 105, Waldorf, MD 20601
204 Monroe St, Suite 105, Rockville, MD 20850-4425
110 N. Washington St., Suite 300-25, Rockville, MD 20850
12932 Georgia Ave, Silver Spring, MD 20906
31 Wood Lane, First Floor, Rockville, MD 20850-2228
22 S Market St, Unit 11, Frederick, MD 21701
51 Monroe Place, Suite 1401, Rockville, MD 20850
3 Bethesda Metro Center, Suite 700, Bethesda, MD 20814
100 South Washington Street, Rockville, MD 20850
6411 Ivy Lane, Suite 304, Greenbelt, MD 20770
401 N. Washington St., Suite 500, Rockville, MD 20850
4328 Farragut St, Hyattsville, MD 20781
27 W Jefferson St, Rockville, MD 20850
932 Hungerford Drive, Suite 4-B, Rockville, MD 20850
20 Courthouse Square, Suite 212, Rockville, MD 20850
8808 Old Branch Ave, Clinton, MD 20735
10905 Fort Washington Rd, Suite 103, Fort Washington, MD 20744
110 N. Washington St., Suite 502, Rockville, MD 20850
5407 Water Street, Suite 104, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772
Issue Drug Trafficking Information
Lead Counsel Verified Attorneys in Issue
Lead Counsel independently verifies Drug Trafficking attorneys in Issue and checks their standing with Maryland bar associations.
Our Verification Process and Criteria
Ample Experience
Attorneys must meet stringent qualifications and prove they practice in the area of law they’re verified in.
Good Standing
Be in good standing with their bar associations and maintain a clean disciplinary record.
Annual Review
Submit to an annual review to retain their Lead Counsel Verified status.
Client Commitment
Pledge to follow the highest quality client service and ethical standards.
What Is Drug Trafficking?
Drug trafficking, from a legal perspective, refers to the unlawful sale or even movement of drugs (as determined by both state and federal statutes). Per the drug scheduling system set out by the United States government, almost all recreational drugs — and some prescription drugs with federally defined medicinal properties — are covered under the offense of drug trafficking.
Drug trafficking is differentiated from simple possession both in terms of the act itself — trafficking involving movement and sale, rather than purchase (or cultivation, in some states, regarding marijuana) — as well as the scale and severity of the offense.
What Is the Difference Between Drug Trafficking and Smuggling?
Smuggling is a broader category of offense in which a variety of goods can be transported unlawfully, from general merchandise such as food or clothing to more controversial products such as firearms.
Drug trafficking can be considered a form of smuggling as both the transport and sale of the drugs in question are conducted away from the authorities.
In short, all drug trafficking involves an element of smuggling, while not all smuggling operations concern themselves with drug trafficking.
How Much Jail Time Can You Get for Drug Trafficking?
Penalties for drug trafficking can be quite severe. For example, if you are found guilty of trafficking more than 1 kilogram of heroin, 5 kilograms of cocaine, 10 grams of LSD, 1,000 kilograms of marijuana or 50 grams of methamphetamine, you could face the stiffest sentencing under federal guidelines and could end up serving between 10 years to life behind bars. The minimum sentence for a violation of this statute, in federal court, is enhanced to 20 years if an individual dies or suffers serious bodily injury as a result of the use of said drugs. Penalties are not quite as strict for lesser amounts.
State laws also show little lenience toward those found guilty of drug trafficking offenses. Those found guilty of trafficking marijuana in Nevada, if the sum weight of the cannabis exceeds 5,000 pounds or 100 pounds of concentrate, such as oil or resin could lead to 15 years or life imprisonment in addition to fines of up to $200,000. To provide an example of a less substantial weight, some state laws demand that offenders trafficking over 25 pounds or 300 cannabis plants of marijuana be sentenced to a minimum of three years imprisonment. A fine of $25,000 is also attached to this sentence.
Drug trafficking charges can result in between three to six years incarceration for those found guilty of lower-level felony charges, but those convicted can spend life behind bars for weightier transactions or deals that result in injury or death.
Can You Beat a Drug Trafficking Charge?
It is possible to defeat drug trafficking charges in certain circumstances. If you’re facing charges related to drug trafficking, retaining experienced legal counsel should be a top priority. Not only will attorney-client privilege allow you to strategize with your lawyer — determining whether to take your case to trial or to attempt to negotiate a plea bargain — but having an experienced legal expert on the case can also improve your negotiating position.
Several common defenses can be deployed by a skilled criminal defense lawyer familiar with standing precedent and existing case law pertaining to drug trafficking charges in your state. A lack of evidence enough to secure a conviction on the part of the prosecution, allegations of entrapment or faulty evidence gathering and other material facts can be used to strengthen your defense.
It is imperative that you hire a criminal defense lawyer experienced defending drug trafficking defendants. He or she knows the defenses and errors investigators sometimes make that can help form your defense. You deserve aggressive representation when faced with such a serious charge.