What to do if you are charged with drug trafficking?
What are criminal charges?
Drug dealing and drug trafficking are serious charges and it’s dangerous. Drug trafficking has a broader net and laws can vary from state to state all around the world. However, all laws agree on punishing the person who is trafficking drugs.
Any person can be convicted of drug trafficking if he or she has been manufacturing, transporting, selling, or distributing illegal drugs. Illegal drugs include marijuana, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamines, and hydrocodone. People could be involved directly or indirectly with them. However, if you happen to be in that situation where you could have been arrested, it’s better that you think about what to do if you are charged with drug trafficking?
1. Don’t talk without your lawyer
Usually, when something like this happens, people want to speak, yell and even scream that they didn’t do it or that they were at fault and feel sorry, but this approach is wrong. When you are arrested, the officer will tell you that anything you do or say will be used in a court of law. So, don’t speak unless and until you have your lawyer present. It’s best to remain silent. If you have your own lawyer, that’s good but if you don’t have one, the state will provide you with a lawyer. Your lawyer will be informed, or you will be allowed to make a call to him. It is your right to have a lawyer and if someone is holding you hostage without a lawyer, they are violating the law. The law officers are not allowed to search you or your belonging unless they have a warrant.
2. Understanding of your charge and your rights
Before we get into the details of what you should do, you need to understand that all crimes have different weights and measurements, and based on that, you get charged with a crime. Your lawyer may ask you what are criminal charges against you and then he or she can tell you about your rights. Since different states have different laws, the penalty could be different as well.
If your crime is of minor nature and you have not crossed borders, you are likely to be prosecuted on a local level. But if you have crossed borders, the criminal charge could be serious and may involve federal law and DEA. Also, when you are accused of being charged with something, the prosecutor has to prove these allegations in a court of law. Whatever is your stance, your lawyer will go through all the details and form a plan.
3. Bail
Normally, if you haven’t done something dangerous, you are allowed bail in exchange for some money. Once you are on bail, talk to your lawyer to do everything that is required before you get indicted. Criminal charges can ruin your and your family’s reputation, so you would want to get rid of it as soon as possible.
4. Gather the evidence
You should be honest and helpful with your lawyer. Tell them all the details so that they can gather all evidence for your defense. It is important because evidence can be lost or destroyed after some time.