You’ve Been Charged with Drug Trafficking, What’s Next?

You’ve Been Charged with Drug Trafficking, What’s Next?

If you’re arrested and accused of trafficking any type of controlled substance, it can be a frightening situation. Trafficking can involve many types of drugs, usually in larger amounts, which the law and authorities take very seriously in Alabama. While each case is different, below is some information about what to do next and what you might expect. 

Seek Criminal Defense Help

Drug trafficking is an extremely serious felony offense - both at the state and federal levels. In either situation, if you are convicted, you can face long mandatory minimum prison sentences, extensive fines, and the possible forfeiture of your personal assets. The consequences are severe, so it is critical that you seek help from the right Montgomery criminal defense attorney. 

Unrepresented defendants often do not understand their rights and the criminal process, which means they can face much harsher penalties than they would with aggressive defense representation. The very first thing you should do after an arrest for drug trafficking is to contact a lawyer with experience defending against this particular type of drug crime. This is true whether your charges are brought in state or federal court. 

How Do You Defend Against Allegations of Drug Trafficking?

If the police arrested you after discovering drugs in your home, vehicle, or on your person, you may be wondering whether there is any way to defend yourself in court. In many cases involving drugs, the best available defense is to challenge the way in which the police stopped or searched you. If the police violated your 4th Amendment rights while they were investigating or searching you, it may be possible to prevent the state from using any evidence they discovered against you. 

Some other potential defenses available may include:

• Introducing evidence that you were in possession of the drugs lawfully (for example, that you had a prescription or were transporting them as a commercial driver)
• Arguing that your conduct did not amount to trafficking
• Showing that the substances of which you were in possession are not illegal drugs

In many cases, the best course of action for a person accused of drug trafficking is to agree to a plea bargain. In a plea bargain, you plead guilty in return for reduced charges, fewer charges, or a lesser punishment. 

In many cases, a good plea agreement can keep you out of jail and may even keep a conviction off of your record. Working with an attorney familiar with defending people accused of drug crimes will maximize your chances of being offered a plea agreement with the most favorable terms possible. It is important to never accept a plea bargain without having a lawyer fully explain all of the possible implications of doing so. 

Speak with a Montgomery Drug Trafficking Defense Lawyer Immediately

If you have been accused of drug traffic or any other crime, you should speak to an attorney as soon as you can. At Luck Law, LLC, we have the experience required to bring your case to the most favorable resolution possible. Contact us online or call 334-262-5455 today to schedule a consultation with a criminal defense lawyer in Montgomery.

You may want to read out our article on "Felon in Possession of a Firearm in Alabama"