What is drug trafficking?
Drug trafficking laws are laid out under South Carolina Code § 44-53-370(e). It’s important to understand exactly what trafficking is, as well as the possible penalties if you find yourself arrested and charged with this offense.
You can be arrested and charged with drug trafficking if you’re in possession of over a certain amount (or weight) of illegal drugs. You don’t need to be transporting drugs anywhere to be charged with trafficking. You only need to be in possession of an amount that takes the offense from a minor drug charge to trafficking. In fact, you don’t even have to have the intent to sell, distribute, or transport the drugs to be arrested.
According to state law, an individual can be charged with drug trafficking if he or she is found with drugs either at or over the following amounts:
- 10 pounds of marijuana
- 10 grams of cocaine or cocaine mixture
- 10 grams of methamphetamine
- 15 grams of methaqualone
- 100 tablets or more of LSD
- 100 tablets or more of MDMA or ecstasy
- 1 gram or more of flunitrazepam (Rohypnol)
- 50 milliliters or more of gamma hydroxybutyric acid (GHB)
Illegal possession of a lesser amount of drugs is still a crime, but a lesser charge than drug trafficking.
Yes, you can be charged and convicted with trafficking simply because of the weight of the drugs you possessed. The law assumes you are a drug dealer even when you are not. However, at T. Kirk Truslow, PA we believe that you are innocent until proven guilty.
It is possible to mount a successful defense to drug trafficking with aggressive legal help. Every issue must be investigated. For example, if proper procedure was not followed in stopping your vehicle of searching your residence, the evidence may be inadmissible in court. We’re prepared to handle any drug trafficking charges, including the following controlled substances:
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