Drug trafficking is simply dealing with uncontrolled substances such as cocaine, heroin, marijuana, and other illicit drugs from its point of production to transportation and eventually the sale. It also includes illegal sale of prescription drugs such as opium which is often abused and redirected from its primary use. According to studies released by the Department of Justice, drug trafficking has become a significant cause of arrests in the state.

Proving Drug Trafficking

Drug trafficking is a crime equated to drug possession since both details the individual liable for possessing illegal drugs knowingly. A person cannot be held on drug trafficking charges if they claim to be unaware of possession of illicit drugs or if they believe that the drugs are legal for one reason or another such as medical reasons.

Trafficking of prescription drugs cases is steadily on the rise due to the accessibility. There must be firm evidence on the actual manufacture, transportation or sale of illegal substances for the crime narrative to pass as a case of felony. Failure to this, the case against the accused may be dismissed or passed for further investigation.

Also, charges between drug trafficking and drug possession can differ. For that reason, the prosecution is required to provide rigid evidence showing the exact crime of the accused. Drug trafficking claims should show proof that the accuser was not only in possession of drugs but also in the process of selling it to other parties. Evidence may include tapes, enormous amounts of money that cannot be accounted for, recordings, business cards or any other material that ascertain the actual selling of illegal drugs. The prosecution may also want to make his or her case firmer with additional witness claims testifying to the drug trafficking operation.

Analysis

Government bodies all around the world seize about 350 tons of heroin drugs yearly. This number is just a mere reflection of the amount that flows in different ports from around the globe; about 430- 450 tones.

The North American drug market is notoriously known for cocaine sale and usage. Cocaine is usually sourced from Central America, Columbia, and Mexico and then transported to the United States and Canada where it is distributed upon demand.

Penalties for Drug Trafficking

Drug trafficking charges are usually harsher compared to drug possession charges. It is categorized as a criminal offense under both federal and state laws, with federal laws coming in if the accused is found trafficking illegal drugs across state borders. Detainment periods vary from small-scale traffickers to large-scale traffickers depending on the broadness of operations and the hardness of the drug being trafficked.

For example, an accused may spend anywhere from three to ten years in detainment and penalties of about hundred thousand dollars for marijuana while another charged individual caught trafficking heroin will get harsher rulings with up to 25 years’ service in detainment and penalties of over half a million dollars. These rulings get harder if there is an inclusion of enhancements such as the sale of drugs within a school zone, in the evidence clip.

Drug trafficking charges could escalate to additional fines especially if the operational scales were too vast to a global level. It could lead to the seizure of all assets under the accused names and freezing of bank accounts. Since drug trafficking is listed as a felony, it makes the accused vulnerable to immigration repercussions and citizenship revocation including deportation to native countries where the sentence will be transferred to a prison in the mother country.