Drug trafficking is one of the most common kinds of drug crimes. You can be accused of drug trafficking if you have drugs in your vehicle and cross state lines, transport drugs between cities or even if you’re only in possession of drugs but are in a moving vehicle. To be accused of this crime, you usually have to have a large amount of an illegal or controlled substance.
Georgia applies mandatory minimum penalties for trafficking offenses using the federal standards. Since that’s the case, there is a real chance that you could face substantial time in prison if you are accused and convicted of trafficking drugs.
What are the penalties for drug trafficking in Georgia?
Trafficking offenses have harsh penalties. The penalties include:
- Five to 30 years in prison for the possession (and intent to traffic) of any Schedule I drug or a Schedule II narcotic drug. Repeat convictions are punishable with a minimum of 10 and up to life in prison.
- One to 10 years in prison for the possession of schedule III, IV or V drugs with the intent to traffic those drugs.
The good news is that there are some defenses against trafficking allegations. For example, you may have only been in possession without the intent to traffic or sell the drugs. If you can prove this, it may help your case. Similarly, you may be able to fight back with claims that the drugs weren’t yours or that you didn’t have enough of them to meet the requirements for a trafficking charge. Your attorney will talk to you more about possible defenses.
