Have You Been Arrested for Drug Smuggling in Arizona?

Everything You Need to Know About Drug Smuggling in Mesa Arizona

Smuggling illegal narcotics into Arizona can have serious consequences. If you are subject to criminal investigation or have been arrested for smuggling in the Mesa area, the priority should be retaining the services of a qualified lawyer. There are experienced Mesa criminal defense lawyers licensed to practice in federal and state courts.

Drug Smuggling in Mesa and Arizona

Drug smuggling may involve controlled substances, such as cocaine, heroin, marijuana, and methamphetamines. The activity may lead to charges of possessing drugs, possessing drugs for sale, importation, transportation, or trafficking of drugs.

The charges depend on the type and quantity of drugs involved. Other factors that may impact the severity of the offense are conducting smuggling activities in school zones, minors being involved in smuggling, and previous criminal convictions.

Mesa is in the Arizona High Density Drug Trafficking Area created by the Department of Justice to reduce smuggling across the Mexican-U.S. border. Of all drug crimes in the U.S., trafficking is the most common.

It is often combined with manufacturing and possession offenses. Any crime that is associated with illegal drug networks is drug trafficking. A person possessing an unlawful substance involved in drug trading may be charged with trafficking and possession with intent to distribute.

There are powerful legal teams in Mesa who have extensive experience defending federal and state drug charges. You could be facing years in prison. It is critical to act fast and secure experienced defense representation.

Arizona Trafficking Laws

Depending on the kind of drug, trafficking illegal substances in Arizona ranges from Class 6 to Class 2 felonies. The highest prison sentence possible is ten years. The fines vary. A penalty for marijuana trafficking may be a fine of $750.

Dangerous or prescription drugs could result in a fine of $1000 and a $2000 fine for narcotic drugs. High fines and prison terms can severely damage one’s financial stability and ruin chances of future success if the suspect does not fight the charges with the help of a Mesa drug trafficking lawyer.

Importing and Transporting Drugs

Many of the illegal substances circulating in the U.S. are imported from other countries. Arizona has a high rate of drug importation across the border. These are the penalties meant to deter the offense Penalties for importing and transporting drugs differ for the type of substance and the amount being imported.

• Less than two pounds of marijuana – Class 3 felony
• Two pounds or more of marijuana – Class 2 felony
• Any amount of narcotic drugs – Class 2 felony
• Any amount of dangerous drugs – Class 2 felony

Of importance to note is drugs imported across state lines either from another state or another country is a crime of importation and transportation.

Smuggling Drug Offenses

Smuggling is a type of importing or exporting drugs. It involves illegal and secret moving of goods across country borders. Smuggling is a specific trafficking crime that carries severe penalties. Mesa is in the region known as the Arizona High Intensity Trafficking Area., which is an arrival zone for vast quantities of methamphetamines, marijuana, and to a lesser extent, cocaine and heroin entering the U.S. from Mexico.

An all-out battle with drug cartels from Mexico has been going on for years in Arizona, especially in the Nogales corridor. The area is known to be the corridor for the most smuggling of marijuana activity throughout Arizona.

Due to the sparsely populated, remote stretches of land in Arizona, it is difficult for law officers to patrol. Smugglers carry backpacks that hold as much as 100 pounds of marijuana across the Mexico-Arizona border.

Penalties for Drug Smuggling

Arizona’s Revised Statutes, Title 13, Chapter 34, state drug smuggling can carry a charge of ‘transportation.’ It depends on whether the drug is dangerous, a narcotic, or marijuana, and the amount whether the crime is prosecuted as a Class 2 or 3 felony.

• Class 2 felony penalties include a prison sentence of three to 12.5 years and possible fines, community service, and mandatory drug testing.
• Class 3 felony penalties carry a prison sentence of two to 8.75 years and possible fines, community service, and mandatory drug testing.

If a substantial quantity of drugs is smuggled into Arizona, the offender may face federal drug trafficking charges that involve hefty fines and years of prison.

Possible Drug Smuggling Charges Defense

Law enforcement must have reasonable cause to search a person or property to be charged with smuggling. Constitutional rights protect people from unreasonable search and seizure. If there is no reasonable cause, charges may be dropped. Any law enforcement officer or police violation of rules can lead to invalid evidence. Common smuggling charges defense include

• No probable cause to be searched
• Obtained no warrant before conducting a search
• Suspect in the vicinity but not involved
• No intent to smuggle drugs
• Unaware of involvement in drug activity

Drug traffickers often use unsuspecting people to smuggle drugs without their knowledge. Individuals are sometimes in the wrong place when law enforcement raids a smuggling activity and are assumed to be involved.

Whether facing federal drug trafficking or transportation charges, a strong defense lawyer is needed more than ever. A person, who is not a citizen of the U.S., can be deported and forever barred from becoming a citizen.

Many defenses are used by criminal defense attorneys and drug defense lawyers in Arizona who defend drug sale and distribution charges. Top Mesa defense lawyers work hard to get drug charges dropped. Early retention of an experienced lawyer or drug sales defense attorney has a significant impact on the outcome of a case.

It is foolish to go without legal representation. The fastest way for a conviction and harsh sentence to go through the justice system is to be unrepresented by an experienced drug defense lawyer. If charged with a drug smuggling offense, consult an experienced Mesa criminal defense lawyer. Some of the best lawyers provide free consultations. The factors that are considered include

• Quantity of substance allegedly sold or intended to sell
• Prior criminal record
• First or repeat charges
• Strength of prosecutor’s evidence
• Possessing or using a dangerous weapon related to the charge
• Selling or attempting to sell to a minor
• Drug sale location or intent to engage in the sale or transaction of drugs at a school or where children reside
• Drug sale charges in conjunction with other offenses occurring at the same time, such as cultivation or manufacturing
• Other factors not listed

The Arizona Court, prosecution, and judge will also use these factors when considering penalties and sentences.

Why Lawyers Defend Those Accused of Smuggling

With the decay of civility, degradation, and violence in society today, many people wonder why attorneys defend criminals. It is a reasonable question when intolerant attitudes toward people who have committed crimes are considered—true-crime TV shows and crime news, in some ways, prime the opinion of others.

The aim of a criminal defense lawyer is to ensure clients get a fair trial. Everyone is deserving of a strong legal defense. They also deserve protection from overzealous law enforcement officers and prosecutors, who may violate rules to get convictions. An attorney's job is to uphold the laws and constitution that ensure the Government does not cheat.