Drug Trafficking in Orlando, FL

Drug Trafficking

Drug trafficking is a severe criminal charge with substantial consequences, including jail time and hefty fines. If you or a loved one has been charged with drug trafficking, your first step should be contacting an attorney. The lawyers at Hanlon Law have valuable experience defending those accused of drug trafficking in Orlando, Florida. We know how to navigate the criminal justice system and are ready to protect your rights and freedom. 

Drug Trafficking Charges 

Florida’s drug trafficking laws can be found in the Florida Statutes Chapter 893. These statutes define drug trafficking as the intentional sale, manufacture, purchase, possession, transportation, or delivery of a certain amount of narcotics into Florida. The law defines the difference between drug sales and drug trafficking based on the quantity of drugs. Drug trafficking is a first-degree felony, with more severe consequences than for the sale or delivery. 

Here is a list of the threshold for possession categorized by drug: 

• Marijuana- possession of at least 25 pounds of cannabis or 300 cannabis plants 
• Fentanyl, hydrocodone, oxycodone, morphine, and opium- at least 4 grams 
• Cocaine and phencyclidine- at least 28 grams 
• Amphentamine- at least 14 grams 
• Methaqualone- at least 200 grams 
• Gamma- hydroxybutyric Acid (GHB)- at least 1 kilogram 
• Lysergic Acid (LSD)- at least gram 

These thresholds represent the minimum amount necessary for drug trafficking charges to be filed against you. As the amount of each drug related to the charge increases, so does the potential mandatory minimum prison sentence. 

Penalties for Drug Trafficking in Florida 

In order to be convicted of drug trafficking charges, the prosecutor must prove beyond all reasonable doubt that: 

• A person has knowledge of the substance 
• The substance was an illegal substance that was alleged 
• The substance’s weight meets the minimum alleged amount 

The penalties for drug trafficking charges depend on the type and quantity of drugs allegedly involved. Additionally, if you are not a United States citizen, a conviction for an offense related to a controlled substance violation will result in deportation from the US. Other aggravating factors, such as prior drug convictions or possession of a firearm while engaging in drug trafficking, may result in even more jail time or higher fines.

Penalties for Conviction of Marijuana Trafficking 

The mandatory minimum prison sentences and fines imposed after a conviction for drug trafficking of marijuana depend on the amount: 

• 25 to 2,000 pounds (or more than 300 plants): 3-year minimum prison sentence and a $25,000 fine 
• 2,000 to 10,000 pounds (or more than 2,000 plants): 7-year minimum prison sentence and a $50,000 fine 
• 10,000 or more pounds (or more than 10,000 plants): 15-year minimum prison sentence and a $250,000 fine

Penalties for Conviction of Cocaine Trafficking 

The mandatory minimum prison sentences and fines imposed following a drug trafficking conviction for cocaine depend on the amount: 

• 28 to 200 grams: 3-year minimum prison sentence and a $50,000 fine 
• 200 to 400 grams: 7-year minimum prison sentence and a $100,000 fine 
• 400 grams to 1.5 kilograms: 15-year minimum prison sentence and a $250,000 fine 

Penalties for Conviction of Heroin Trafficking 

Trafficking heroin is a first-degree felony, punishable by up to 30 years in prison. Still, the amount of heroin determines the mandatory minimum prison sentences and fines imposed after a conviction: 

• 4 to 14 grams: 3-year minimum prison sentence and a $50,000 fine 
• 14 to 28 grams: 15-year minimum prison sentence and a $100,000 fine 
• 28 grams to 30 kilograms: 25-year minimum prison sentence and a $500,000 fine 

Penalties for Conviction of Oxycodone Trafficking 

The mandatory minimum prison sentences and fines imposed after a conviction for drug trafficking of Oxycodone depend on the amount: 

• 7 to 14 grams: 3-year minimum prison sentence and a $50,000 fine 
• 14 to 25 grams: 7-year minimum prison sentence and a $100,000 fine 
• 25 to 100 grams: 15-year minimum prison sentence and a $500,000 fine 
• 100 grams to 30 kilograms: 25-year minimum prison sentence and a $750,000 fine

Defending Against Drug Trafficking Charges in Florida 

Most drug trafficking cases depend on search and seizure to obtain evidence for a conviction. If this search and seizure were conducted illegally, any evidence obtained must be excluded. Your criminal defense attorney must investigate the police conduct during your case to determine if your rights were violated during their investigation. 

Another possible defense route is entrapment. When police illegally induce a person to commit a crime when the person would not have otherwise engaged in the illegal activity, law enforcement is guilty of entrapment, and a defense attorney may be able to have the charges dropped. 

A skilled criminal defense attorney should also assess every aspect of your case to determine factors that may mitigate the charges, leading to a reduction or possible dismissal. 

Protect Your Future With Hanlon Law

If you have been charged with drug trafficking, you face a profound first-degree felony conviction with severe penalties. The skilled Orlando criminal defense lawyers at Hanlon Law are ready and able to assess the circumstances surrounding your case and work in your best interest. A conviction for these charges will dramatically impact your life, so you must take action immediately to protect your future. 

If you are facing drug trafficking charges in Orlando, Florida, contact the attorneys at Hanlon Law today.

Contact Us

Call Today

407.987.3836

Practice Areas

Sex Offenses

Federal Sex Crimes

Florida Sex Crimes

Drug Charges

• Drug Charges
• Drug Trafficking

Violent Crimes