TRAFFICKING IN DRUGS
Florida Statute 893.135 provides a basic understanding of the trafficking laws in Florida in regard to weights and amounts of particular narcotics that will be deemed trafficking.
If convicted of a trafficking offense, certain minimum mandatory penalties must be assessed such as fines and imprisonment. Trafficking is defined as:
Any person who knowingly sells, purchases, manufactures, delivers, or brings into this state a specific amount of a controlled substance.
Note: It is important to remember that depending on the amount of the drugs seized will determine what level felony is charged however, regardless of the degree of the felony charged, the minimum mandatory sentence is still required.
PENALTIES
Drug Trafficking are dependent on the substance and the amount. The following are some examples of the mandatory fines and sentences. If you or someone you know is charged with drug trafficking call a lawyer immediately.
Marijuana
25-2,000lbs or 300-2,000 plants = 3 years prison and $25,000 fine
2,000-10,000lbs or 2,000-10,000 plants = 7 years prison and $50,000 fine
10,000+lbs or 10,000+ plants = 15 years prison and $200,000 fine
Cocaine
28-200 grams = 3 years prison and $50,000 fine
200-400 grams = 7 years prison and $100,000 fine
400grams – 150 kilograms = 15 years prison and $250,000 fine
DEFENSES
Different defenses are available depending on the facts of the case, however, not every case will have a defense. The defenses can be legal or factual in nature such as:
Illegal search;
Lack of Probable Cause;
Improper weight;
Lack of knowledge;
