Drug Trafficking defense in Florida.

What makes a drug charge trafficking in Florida?

Weight. Under F.S. 893.135, trafficking is charged when the amount of a controlled substance reaches certain weight thresholds, and a conviction carries a minimum mandatory prison sentence. The threshold that applies depends on the substance involved, so the exact weight the state alleges is one of the first things to pin down.

A minimum mandatory sentence limits how low a sentence can go after a conviction. That is why trafficking cases are treated so differently from simple possession, and why small differences in measured weight can have large consequences.

Why the measured weight is often contested

The weight in an arrest report is often a field weight, which may include bags or wrapping. The lab weight that follows can differ. The defense reviews how the substance was weighed, whether packaging was separated, whether every item was tested or only a sample, and whether the scale and procedures were documented.

These records come through discovery, and Florida permits depositions of witnesses, including analysts and officers who handled the evidence. Where a weight sits close to a threshold, those details can matter a great deal.

Knowledge, possession and the investigation

Trafficking cases often involve cars, packages, storage units or homes where more than one person had access. The state generally has to connect the substance to the person charged, and proximity alone may not be enough. Phone records, statements and surveillance are frequently part of that picture.

The investigation itself is examined too. Searches, warrants, traffic stops and the use of informants all have to follow the law. If evidence was obtained unlawfully, a motion to suppress asks the court to exclude it, and whether that request has merit depends on the record.

Getting help early in a trafficking case

Trafficking charges move quickly, and the stakes are high from the first court date. DUI Lawyers Shield Firm is led by David Cannady, a former Florida prosecutor admitted to The Florida Bar in 2014, and offers a free case review to go through the arrest report, the weights and the search. Payment plans through Affirm, including $0 down options, are available subject to approval.

Other drug offense defense pages

• Marijuana Possession
• Cocaine Possession
• Prescription Drug Charges
• Methamphetamine Possession
• Heroin Possession
• Drug Distribution
• Drug Manufacturing

General information only, not legal advice. Every case depends on its own facts, and prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.