What Amount of Drugs is Considered Trafficking?

What amount of drugs is considered trafficking in Michigan? The controlled substance industry depends on the transportation of drugs from their manufacturer to the buyer. Drug trafficking involves complex “smuggling” routes, methods, and middlemen. 

Reviewing Drug Trafficking Charges in Michigan

The potential consequences for drug trafficking depends on many factors. Obviously, the quantity of drugs involved matter greatly, as do any other crimes that happened during the alleged trafficking. Other factors may include: 

• The location of the alleged crime(s) (i.e. around a school, near children)
• If the defendant was carrying a gun while trafficking controlled substances
• Whether the alleged drug trafficking crime(s) involved minors
• Whether the alleged trafficking led to serious injury or death
• Whether the alleged trafficking led to other crimes (i.e. robbery, assault)

As you can see, any crime that occurs near minors carries much more severe punishment. It is also important to note that drug trafficking includes the following controlled substance(s):

• Heroin
• Cocaine 
• Methamphetamine
• Marijuana

While marijuana is legal in Michigan, it is still federally illegal, therefore making any transportation outside of Michigan’s allotted amount subject to federal law. Unlawful trafficking of any controlled substance (from Schedule I to Schedule V) can result in drug trafficking charges.

Penalties for Drug Trafficking Crimes in Michigan

Drug trafficking is a felony in Michigan, as described in section 333.7403. Even for first time offenders, convicted drug traffickers may receive a mandatory minimum sentence ranging from a year (for Schedule V substances) to over five (5) years (for Schedule I and II substances).

Fines are also a detrimental reality to drug trafficking charges. Some federal trafficking convictions carry fines as high as $10 million. However, below are the typical penalties for drug trafficking cocaine, heroin, and/or methamphetamine:

1,000 Grams or More

• Imprisonment for life or any term of years, or a fine of not more than $1 million, or both.

450 Grams or More

• Imprisonment for not more than 30 years, or a fine of not more than $500,000, or both.

50 Grams or More

• Imprisonment for not more than 20 years, or a fine of not more than $250,000, or both.

Less than 25 Grams, 25 Grams or More

• Imprisonment for not more than 4 years, or a fine of not more than $25,000, or both.

To learn more about possible penalties and fines for drug trafficking charges, read Section 333.7403 here. 

Michigan’s Stance on Drug Trafficking

Michigan has a unique issue with drug trafficking, as Detroit sits on the border between the United States and Windsor-Canada border. Just from March 21 to May 16, U.S. Customs agents seized….

• 2,856 pounds of marijuana, 
• 87 pounds of cocaine, 
• 12 pounds of fentanyl, and 
• 12 guns at Detroit Metropolitan Airport, the Ambassador Bridge and Detroit-Windsor Tunnel in Detroit, the Blue Water Bridge in Port Huron, and the International Bridge in Sault Ste. Marie.

As you can guess, federal agents and Michigan law enforcement officers treat drug trafficking very seriously. It holds mandatory minimum sentences which promise years behind bars, if not handled correctly.

The Takeaway

We hope that we answered the question, “What amount of drugs is considered trafficking?”The penalties for drug crimes in Michigan are some of the most severe, and the consequences of a conviction can be life-altering. An experienced drug trafficking lawyer will be familiar with all aspects of drug crimes and can help you understand both the charges brought against you as well as what your best course of action is.

At the Law Offices of Barton Morris, we work to get to know and understand our clients. We believe that this enables us to provide even better legal services because we appreciate the person behind the case. Our drug crimes attorneys in Michigan are well-versed in all aspects of criminal law.

We thoroughly investigate all cases and identify the approach that best suits our clients’ needs. More specifically, we are thoroughly knowledgeable in defense strategies that relate to the fourth amendment. We will leave no stone unturned when investigating if law enforcement’s search and seizure was reasonable and lawful.

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