If you’re facing drug trafficking charges in Louisiana:
- Secure legal representation immediately – this is critical
- Drug trafficking is a felony with severe penalties including lengthy prison sentences
- A conviction impacts your entire life: employment, housing, and education opportunities
- While complete dismissal is rare, several defense strategies can help reduce or dismiss charges
Your lawyer can mount a strong defense on your behalf, protect you during police questioning, and ideally have your trafficking charge dismissed.
Below, our Lake Charles drug offense attorneys explain what it takes to be found innocent in drug trafficking cases and how to get a drug trafficking charge dismissed altogether.
Understanding drug trafficking in Louisiana
Drug trafficking in Louisiana is defined as the illegal transportation, distribution, or sale of controlled substances. Penalties vary based on the substance involved – trafficking marijuana carries lesser penalties than heroin or methamphetamine.
For a conviction, prosecutors must prove beyond reasonable doubt that you had control over the drugs found and you intended to sell them.
Common drug trafficking defenses
Although the details of your case will influence how your attorney mounts a defense, there are several successful strategies that a good criminal defense lawyer may use to secure a favorable outcome.
Illegal search and seizure
Evidence obtained through Fourth Amendment violations (searching without a proper warrant or exceeding warrant scope) may be ruled inadmissible. If this evidence is crucial to the case, charges might be dropped due to insufficient evidence.
Rights violations
Procedural failures by police during arrest or search (such as failing to read Miranda rights or improper detention) can provide grounds for case dismissal.
Lack of probable cause
If police lacked sufficient basis to arrest you or conduct searches, evidence gathered may be excluded and charges potentially dismissed.
Lack of knowledge
Demonstrating you were unaware drugs were in your possession (e.g., someone placed drugs in your car or bag without your knowledge) can establish absence of criminal intent.
Lack of intent
While you may have possessed drugs, proving you had no intention to sell them could reduce charges from trafficking to simple possession, resulting in significantly lesser penalties.
Entrapment
If law enforcement induced you to commit a crime you otherwise wouldn’t have committed, particularly in complex sting operations, this could be grounds for dismissal.
Technical errors
Mistakes in charging documents or the criminal complaint can sometimes lead to case dismissal, though these are less common but should be carefully examined by your attorney.
Don’t face drug charges alone – Experienced defenders ready to fight for you
The attorneys at The Johnson Firm are committed to achieving the best possible outcome for your case. Contact us today at (337) 433-1414 for a consultation.