You may be shocked to learn that you have been charged with cocaine trafficking in Florida when you do not think that the alleged conduct amounts to anything close to what you may have thought was drug trafficking. The Florida criminal defense attorneys at The Alers Law Firm can help you deal with law enforcement, and they can fight for you to achieve the best possible legal outcome for your case.
Florida is seeing a rise in cocaine being imported into the state. Prosecutors in the state have also adopted a much more aggressive stance, and tough drug laws allow them to do that. You must mount a vigorous legal defense to cocaine trafficking charges, and there are ways that you can stand up for your legal rights.
You can take the first step towards defending yourself by speaking with the Florida criminal defense lawyers at The Alers Law Firm. We are always available to discuss both your case and your legal options.
There Is More Cocaine in the Orlando Area These Days
One of the reasons for a surge in cocaine trafficking charges is that this particular drug is being brought into the United States in larger quantities recently. While law enforcement has focused intently on fentanyl smuggling, there has been less of a focus on preventing cocaine from entering the country. As a result, there have been more arrests for cocaine, since it is becoming increasingly present in Florida.
The state is also known for having among the toughest drug laws in the entire country. When it comes to drug laws and sentences in Florida, the pendulum only swings one way, and they are continuously made tougher over time.
Florida Has Very Strict Cocaine Trafficking Laws
The cocaine trafficking law is one of the ways that Florida strongly punishes possession of drugs. It is often thought of as a Draconian law that easily allows prosecutors to seek serious penalties, including potentially a lifetime jail sentence, for a variety of conduct related to the drug.
You may think of cocaine trafficking as charges that are associated only with alleged drug kingpins. However, the way that the law is written in Florida means that you can even be considered to be trafficking in cocaine if you are charged with being in possession of a certain amount of the drug. To be convicted of cocaine trafficking in Florida, the prosecutor would need to prove the following:
- The defendant knowingly possessed, sold, purchased, manufactured, delivered or brought into Florida a substance
- The substance was cocaine
- The cocaine weighed a certain amount
Prosecutors are becoming much more aggressive about charging certain crimes that involve cocaine as trafficking. The current environment in the state has resulted in a law enforcement posture that seems to err on the side of possibly overcharging certain crimes to increase the odds of winning convictions and imposing harsher penalties. Prosecutors have a certain amount of discretion when they handle drug cases, and the charges that they file often depend on their choice, so long as the allegations are supported by the facts and law.
You Need to Seek Help from a Criminal Defense Attorney
If you have been charged with cocaine trafficking in Orlando, you must take strong legal action. The absolute first thing that you should do is contact an experienced criminal defense attorney to begin your legal defense. Working with your criminal defense lawyer, you could determine whether you have a valid legal defense to the charges against you, as there may be an opening to fight back. Your criminal defense lawyer could also negotiate with the prosecutor in the hopes of either facing a lesser charge or receiving a lesser penalty than you otherwise would have. You cannot and should not try to face serious drug charges (or any drug charges for that matter) alone.
Your criminal defense attorney could potentially help you fight the charges against you by using the following defenses:
- The substance that you possessed was not cocaine, or it did not weigh enough to meet the statutory definition of cocaine trafficking
- The evidence against you is flawed, or there was not the proper chain of custody
- You were subjected to an illegal search or seizure that violated your Fourth Amendment rights
- You did not have the intent that is required by the statute
Your criminal defense attorney could even act to suppress the evidence that forms the basis of your case if it was illegally seized, or it is not reliable.
Contact a Florida Criminal Defense Law Firm
If you have been charged with cocaine trafficking in Florida, speak to the experienced Florida criminal defense attorneys at The Alers Law Firm. We offer free consultations to prospective clients, and you can schedule one by messaging us through our website or by calling us today at (407) 930-4888.
Attorney Chavelys Y. Alers was born and raised in Puerto Rico. She specifically grew up in the towns of Vega Baja and Dorado. Attorney Alers is bilingual, as she is fluent in both English and Spanish. Two decades ago, Attorney Alers migrated from Puerto Rico to the mainland United States, Central Florida. Learn more here.
