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Criminal Defense Lawyer in Orlando, FL

Drug Trafficking Lawyer in Orlando, FL

Drug trafficking is a severe charge. A conviction for drug trafficking can result in substantial consequences, including jail time and expensive fines. If you or a loved one is being investigated or facing charges for drug trafficking, it is vital you contact a criminal defense attorney as soon as possible to protect your future. The attorneys at Hanlon Law can help you understand your options and fight for the most favorable outcome in your case. 


Drug Trafficking Charges 


Florida Statute 893 outlines Florida’s drug trafficking laws. This statute classifies drug trafficking as the intentional sale, manufacture, purchase, possession, transportation, or delivery of a certain amount of narcotics into Florida. In order to prove an allegation of drug trafficking, a prosecutor must show beyond a reasonable doubt that: 


  • A person had knowledge of the substance; 
  • The substance was the controlled substance that was alleged; 
  • And the substance weighed over the alleged minimum amount. 


Drug trafficking and drug sale are differentiated based on the quantity of drugs. Here is a list of the threshold of 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 
  • Amphetamine- at least 14 grams 
  • Methaqualone- at least 200 grams 
  • Gamma- hydroxybutyric Acid (GHB)- at least 1 kilogram 
  • Lysergic Acid (LSD)- at least a gram 


The above thresholds represent the minimum amount necessary to elevate charges from drug sales to drug trafficking. As the amount of each drug related to the charge increases, so does the potential mandatory minimum prison sentence. 


Penalties for Drug Trafficking 


The penalties for drug trafficking charges depend on the type and quantity of drugs allegedly involved. Other aggravating factors may result in even more jail time or higher fines, such as prior drug convictions or firearm possession while engaging in the alleged drug trafficking. 


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 

Cocaine Trafficking 


The mandatory minimum prison sentences and fines imposed following a drug trafficking conviction for cocaine depends 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 

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 

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 


Common Defenses for Drug Trafficking 


An experienced criminal defense attorney will assess every aspect of your case to determine the best possible defense to protect your future. Here is a list of common defenses your lawyer may use to fight your drug trafficking charges. 


  • Entrapment: In certain drug cases, law enforcement officers may have coerced a person to engage in illegal activity. If law enforcement was guilty of entrapment in your case, the court might dismiss the charges pending against you. 
  • Lack of evidence: In order to be found guilty of drug trafficking charges in Florida, the prosecutor must provide sufficient evidence that proves the accused knew about the controlled substance and the substance weighed the proper amount. If the evidence brought against you does not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you are guilty of drug trafficking, your attorney should use this in your defense. 
  • Illegal search and seizure: Most drug trafficking cases depend on search and seizure to obtain evidence for a conviction. Any evidence obtained in a search and seizure must be excluded if it was obtained illegally. Your attorney should investigate the police conduct during your case to determine if your rights were violated during their investigation. 


Contact a Drug Attorney 


If you have been accused of drug trafficking, you must retain legal counsel immediately. The criminal defense attorneys at Hanlon Law are ready and able to assess the circumstances of your case to provide your most vigorous defense. A conviction for drug trafficking charges will dramatically impact your life, so you must take action to protect your future. 


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

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