Mounting A Legal Defense Against Drug-Smuggling Charges
ShareIf you are found to be in possession of controlled substances without a legal justification, you may find yourself potentially facing fines and jail time. However, certain drug charges are especially likely to lead to criminal charges, such as drug smuggling. However, an experienced criminal defense attorney has several ways that they can craft a defense for your case.
Understanding the Drug Smuggling Charge
Drug smuggling is different from drug dealing or drug trafficking, in that you must have imported the drugs into the United States. Therefore, where you were arrested and how the drugs were obtained is an important fact.
There are several factors that can lead to more serious charges, such as whether minors were involved and whether you had any prior convictions. Therefore, disputing any of these aspects of the case against you may lead to your charges being reduced or dismissed.
Working With Your Attorney
When you are accused of a crime, you will want to be as honest as possible with your criminal defense attorney. While you might be embarrassed about your situation, any information you provide to your attorney may be used to more effectively defend you in court.
Combatting Rights Violations
Your attorney might argue that you were the victim of a rights violation. For example, your property might have been searched illegally to find the drugs you are accused of smuggling. Then, the evidence gained through the search might be inadmissible in court.
Your criminal defense attorney might fight to have your charges dismissed. While the prosecutor and law enforcement might lead you to believe that you have no hope, many drug-smuggling cases are mishandled.
Understanding the Problem of Vague Legal Language
Due to the thousands of dollars in fines that a government can recover for a drug-smuggling charge, many jurisdictions have made the legal definition of drug-smuggling intentionally vague, so there is a chance that the crime may have been mislabeled as drug-smuggling. Therefore, you will need an experienced criminal defense attorney who can argue as to why you were not in violation of the law.
Determining How Many Years You Might Be Facing
A criminal defense attorney can help you predict how many years you might face for drug-smuggling. Your penalties are affected heavily by the quantity you are accused of smuggling. But, regardless of the facts of your case, a criminal defense attorney will educate you about your options and fight for you in court.