To protect yourself against the harsh penalties associated with a drug trafficking conviction in Georgia, get our Atlanta drug trafficking defense lawyer on your side.
Any type of drug crime in Georgia is a serious legal matter. Penalties are particularly harsh when it comes to drug trafficking. If you are arrested on these charges, you could face thousands of dollars in fines and a lengthy prison sentence. Our Atlanta drug trafficking lawyer explains more about these charges and the evidence that is required to obtain a criminal conviction.
Drug Trafficking Charges in Georgia
In general, drug trafficking involves the manufacture or trade of illegal substances. Under Section 16-13-31 of the Georgia Code, any person who sells, manufactures, delivers, or brings into this state or who is in possession of certain types of drugs and in varying amounts can be charged with felony drug trafficking. This includes:
- More than four grams of heroin;
- More than 28 grams of cocaine or methamphetamine;
- More than 10 pounds of marijuana;
- Varying amounts of other substances, including morphine, MDMA, anabolic steroids, and opiates.
Penalties upon conviction vary depending on the specific drug and the amount involved. These range from fines of $50,000 up to $1 million and a possible prison sentence of between five and 25 years.
Evidence Required to Obtain a Criminal Conviction
Facing any type of illegal drug charge in the Fulton County Criminal Court is a serious matter. Considering the harsh penalties for drug trafficking in Georgia, it is important to get our experienced Atlanta drug crime attorneys on your side immediately.
For prosecutors, four distinct types of evidence are required to obtain a drug trafficking conviction. They will need to prove the following:
- That you were in possession of the illegal substance in question. Police may have found drugs either on your person, at your property, or contained within personal belongings.
- That you were in possession of large amounts of the drug. Lesser amounts fall under the category of simple possession, distribution, or sales and carry less severe penalties.
- That you had intent to traffic. The larger amounts involved generally imply the drugs in your possession were for more than personal use.
- That you sold, distributed, or otherwise moved the substances in your possession. To obtain a conviction, the prosecutor must have evidence documenting your movements or be able to otherwise prove you sold or distributed the drugs in your possession.
Get the Strong Legal Defense You Need From Our Atlanta Drug Trafficking Lawyers
If you are facing drug trafficking charges in Atlanta, reach out to Ghanayem & Rayasam right away. We can begin immediately building a strong legal defense, reviewing any warrants issued, the circumstances surrounding your arrest, and the evidence prosecutors intend to use against you. To protect yourself against the harsh penalties associated with a conviction, call or contact our office online and request a consultation with our Atlanta drug trafficking lawyers today.