Drug Trafficking

Drug trafficking is a serious crime involving the possession of a large amount of narcotics. While common use of the term implies that there is an intent to sell the narcotics, there is no requirement under North Carolina law for the prosecution to prove your intent – merely possessing more than the threshold amount of drugs is sufficient to sustain a conviction, which can carry a long mandatory minimum, even for a first-time offense.

If you have been charged with a drug crime, you need to consult with a criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible. In some circumstances, you could be looking at ten or more years in prison. Drug trafficking statutes are intended to put you behind bars, and prosecutors have the same intention. Trafficking charges need to be fought hard, and you need an aggressive Charlotte criminal defense attorney on your side every step of the way.

At the Olsinski Law Firm, PLLC, we focus on uncovering and presenting you with every option available to defend your case. Once we come up with a strategy, we will work diligently to make sure we fight every possible issue to put you in the best position possible. We have successfully represented countless clients charged with felony drug crimes and know what it takes to ensure your case ends in the best result possible.

North Carolina defines drug trafficking as the sale, manufacture, delivery, transport, or possession of more than a threshold amount of narcotics. Each substance has a different threshold amount; for example, the following are threshold amounts for some of the most commonly filed drug tracking charges in Charlotte:

• Marijuana – 10 pounds or more
• Cocaine – 28 grams or more
• Methamphetamine – 28 grams or more
• Heroin – 4 grams or more
• LSD – 100 units or more
• MDMA – 28 grams or more

It bears repeating that the government does not need to prove what you intend to do with the drugs. Thus, possessing 5 grams of heroin—even if for long-term personal use—is still considered a drug trafficking offense.

State and federal law enforcement officers work together to identify and prosecute large narcotics operations. Often, law enforcement will conduct a drug crime investigation for weeks or months before making an arrest. It is often a situation where the officers are aware of a location where drug activity takes place. The officers will usually gather information and then wait for transactions to take place, whether to an undercover cop or within the view of detectives. The police have procedural standards they must follow before stopping, arresting or questioning citizens.

As defense attorneys, we focus on making sure the police follow these procedures precisely. If there is a procedural misstep, we will find it and use it to our advantage. When creating a defense, a skilled Charlotte drug trafficking attorney from our team will carefully examine the actions of the officers and prosecutors and their handling of your case to identify reasons to challenge the admissibility of the prosecution's evidence to get charges against you reduced or dropped altogether.

If you’ve been charged with drug trafficking in Charlotte, come in and meet one of the drug crimes defense attorneys at the Olsinski Law Firm, PLLC. Your initial consultation is confidential and free. During this consultation, your criminal defense lawyer will listen carefully to what happened leading up to your arrest, as well as answer any questions you have about your arrest or the criminal trial process. Next, we will begin constructing the best defense strategy possible, taking all possible defenses into consideration. If you are facing trafficking charges, contact a Charlotte criminal defense lawyer attorney at the Olsinski Law Firm, PLLC, for insightful assistance and aggressive defense. To learn more, and to schedule a free consultation today, call 704-405-2850, or connect with us through our secure online contact form.