When you found out that you were going to be charged with drug trafficking, you instantly knew the situation was very serious. All across the nation, the authorities are cracking down on drug traffickers, so you could be facing either state or federal felony charges. Either way, a conviction is likely to bring serious jail time.
Do you have any hope for a defense? Certainly. While it may not feel like it right now, there are possible ways to overcome the charges. These include:
A Lack of Knowledge
Good people end up being duped by drug traffickers all the time. Maybe your boyfriend asked you to deliver a package to someone and you had no idea that you were acting as a drug “mule” for his operation. Maybe your cousin asked you to drive his car home and you were entirely unaware that the side panels were packed with heroin. It may be possible to show that you had no knowledge of the drugs, which means that you lacked any intent to traffic them.
Illegally Obtained Evidence
The police can’t just search your home or car at will. There has to be a valid justification for the search. If evidence of drug trafficking was obtained illegally, it may be possible to suppress that evidence in court. If enough evidence is suppressed, the prosecutor’s case may fall apart.
Entrapment by the Authorities
Sometimes the police are a little too eager to make a big drug bust. They may encourage someone to commit a crime. If their actions cross a line and can be considered entrapment, it may be possible to get the charges dismissed.
Finally, even if you can’t offer an affirmative defense against drug trafficking, it may be possible to get your charges or sentence reduced through mitigation. People often get involved in bad situations because they’re desperate — not because they’re bad people. If you’ve been charged with drug trafficking, talk to a defense attorney right away.