Drug Trafficking
Drug trafficking and distribution cases are prosecuted in both state and federal courts. Repeat offenders face even harsher sentences if found guilty of these types of serious drug crimes. The penalties and punishments vary according to a plethora of factors, including the type of narcotic and the amount of the substance possessed. Because the penalties are so serious, even for a first time offense, it crucial to have an aggressive criminal defense lawyer on your side.
A skilled criminal defense attorney can make sure your rights are protected and fight to obtain a favorable outcome for your case. Having skilled legal representation also means the possibility of having your charges reduced, if not dropped completely. An arrest does not mean a conviction. Contact a skilled San Antonio drug trafficking attorney at Goldstein & Orr today.
San Antonio Drug Trafficking Attorney, TX
If you are under investigation by drug narcotics officers or agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration, act quickly to seek advice from an experienced criminal defense attorney. The San Antonio drug trafficking attorneys at Goldstein & Orr represent people charged with serious drug trafficking offenses throughout state and federal courts.
Our offices are located in San Antonio, Texas. We represent clients throughout Bexar County as well as the entire state of Texas. For prosecutions at the federal level, we represent clients throughout the United States, including the United States District Court, Western District of Texas, San Antonio Division. Call (210) 226-1463 today for a free consultation.
Information about Drug Trafficking
- Types of Drug Trafficking Offenses
- Defenses to Drug Trafficking
- Drug Trafficking Cases in San Antonio Market Areas
- Additional Resources
Types of Drug Trafficking Offenses
Investigations for drug crimes target not only individuals, but also groups of people working together. Many of these federal and state investigations use wiretaps and other electronic surveillance, as well as confidential informants and undercover officers in elaborate sting operations. Law enforcement officers with the state or federal government may already have wiretap recordings, video surveillance and statements made by informants to use against you.
Some of the most commonly trafficked drugs include:
- Cocaine
- Heroin
- Marijuana
- Methamphetamine
- Prescription Drugs
All controlled substances, including medications, prescription pills, narcotics, hallucinogens, stimulants, depressants, street drugs and chemicals are classified into four different penalty groups in the Texas Controlled Substances Act. These groups are used to classify different substances for the purpose of establishing punishments for offenses.
In trafficking cases, however, the penalties can increase depending on whether the alleged offender has a previous criminal conviction, whether the offense resulted in serious bodily injury, whether the alleged offender used a weapon during the commission of the offense and whether a child under the age of 18 was involved in the offense.
Defenses to Drug Trafficking
The first avenue of business for a drug crime defense is filing and litigating motions to suppress physical evidence. In other cases, the attorney may file motions to dismiss the charges for insufficient evidence. The goal in many of these cases is getting the charges dismissed or substantially reduced without a trial.
The attorneys at Goldstein & Orr represents clients who have been charged with drug manufacturing, possession, sale, distribution and trafficking. The attorneys at Goldstein & Orr have the experience and talent to fight even the most serious drug crimes. We will carefully examine the facts and evidence in your case. All areas of the case are thoroughly scrutinized. We look for procedural misconduct pertaining to arrest, illegal search and seizure issues, violations of Miranda rights, and problems with evidence collection and storage.
Our investigations often reveal grounds for seeking suppression of physical evidence. When evidence is suppressed by the court it often leads to a dismissal. If a case is not dismissed, it is often possible to obtain a reduction in charges, possibly to possession charges, or an alternative resolution in drug court or another type of diversion program.
Drug Trafficking Cases in San Antonio Market Areas
San Antonio has long been considered a prime drug smuggling corridor between the United States and Mexico. Law enforcement officers also consider San Antonio a significant consumer market for illegal drugs such as cocaine, heroin, marijuana and methamphetamine. San Antonio’s proximity to the South Texas border also results in more intense drug enforcement efforts in this part of the state. In fact, this area of South Texas is the most dominant entry point for cocaine within the Southwest Border corridor. Drug trafficking searches for trafficking amounts of cocaine and other controlled substances often occur in private vehicles, commercial tractor-trailers, passenger buses, and trains.
Law enforcement officers have estimated that more cocaine and heroin have been seized in the South Texas region than in any other area along the U.S.-Mexico border including West Texas, Arizona, California, and New Mexico. The seizures of drugs are particularly common at South Texas boarder crossings including the Nuevo Laredo plaza–located directly across the Rio Grande River from Laredo at the Laredo Port of Entry (POE).
Law enforcement agents consider the Laredo POE as a prime target of Mexican drug cartels and others seeking to smuggle drugs, weapons and cash in and out of the United States. For example, in 2013, Customs and Boarder Protection (CBP) officers seized more than 21 kilos of cocaine and more than 33 kilos of methamphetamines from the Laredo POE.
Additional Resources
Drug Trafficking in San Antonio – Article from the archives of the National Drug Intelligence Center discussing South Texas as a high intensity drug trafficking area. The article contains a drug market analysis for San Antonio. The article also discusses the South Texas border area from Val Verde County in the western portion of the South Texas to Willacy and Cameron Counties along the Gulf of Mexico. The most populated areas of South Texas include Del Rio/Eagle Pass, Laredo, and the Lower Rio Grande Valley.
Federal Drug Trafficking Penalties – The U.S. Department of Justice provides this summary from the Drug Enforcement Administration on federal drug trafficking penalties for Schedule I, II, III, IV and V. A chart summarizing the federal trafficking penalties for marijuana or cannabis is set out separately.
San Antonio Drug Trafficking Defense Attorney, TX
Drug trafficking charges can be intimidating, but that does not have to mean a conviction. If you are accused of a serious drug crime, contact criminal defense attorney at Goldstein & Orr in San Antonio. Drug trafficking offenses prosecuted in state or federal court required experienced legal counsel The criminal defense lawyers at Goldstein & Orr carry over 40 years of experience representing individuals charged with drug trafficking and can use their knowledge to help you build the best defense possible.
Contact Goldstein & Orr at (210) 226-1463 to discuss the facts of your case today. Goldstein & Orr serves clients in San Antonio and nearby cities including Kirby, Pleasanton, Seguin, Lockhart, Kyle, Hondo, Live Oak, Converse, Kirby, New Braunfels, Canyon Lake and Leon Valley.
