Drug trafficking charges are a serious matter, and if you are a defendant in a drug trafficking case, you should consider hiring a Wake County drug trafficking lawyer. Retaining legal counsel can help you assess the charges filed against you and examine whether the state violated your legal rights under the Fourth Amendment, the Fifth Amendment, and/or the Sixth Amendment.
The knowledgeable and skilled criminal defense attorneys at the Granados Law Group have years of experience representing criminal defendants in drug trafficking cases. We understand how to negotiate plea deals and protect a defendant when the state overreaches and violates state or federal law. We pride ourselves on offering exceptional legal representation.
If you are contacted by law enforcement, you should ALWAYS decline to answer questions until you have had an opportunity to speak with a criminal defense attorney! After talking with you about the facts of your case, you and your attorney may decide to sit down and provide a statement if that is deemed to be in your best interest. A criminal defense attorney can advise you during any police interrogation. You have the right to an attorney when you face questioning from police officers, detectives, and investigators while you are in legal custody. You can remain silent or provide information that may help you during the prosecution of your case, but the default position should be that you remain silent until you have had a chance to discuss the matter with an attorney!
A lawyer can also analyze the evidence the state uses to prosecute your case. Reviewing evidence like politce reports and body camera footage, etc., can lead to an attorney choosing to file a motion to suppress if the evidence was seized during a violation of the defendant’s constitutional rights. For example, a search warrant or arrest warrant may not be legally valid. Flawed testing procedures may have been used to identify the controlled substance.
Negotiating a plea agreement is also a critical element of legal representation in drug trafficking cases. Entering a plea deal may reduce the charges filed against you or allow you to avoid incarceration and serve a term of probation. Working with legal counsel can also help you stay updated regarding any changes in your case.
Federal law and state law classify drugs according to a schedule. These schedules are categorized based on the inherent danger of the controlled substance and its potential to cause addiction in human beings who use it frequently. The following are the most typical drugs related to drug trafficking cases in North Carolina:
The weight and quantity of the drug also play a role in any drug trafficking case in North Carolina. Being charged with drug trafficking may lead to lengthy mandatory minimum prison sentences, hefty fines, and substance abuse treatment.An experienced drug trafficking lawyer can help put you in the best position possible to combat these charges. They might suggest that you pursue a motion to suppress, or try to negotiate a lesser sentence for you. You might be given the opportunity to provide “substantial assistance” to the state in exchange for positive consideration at sentencing.
Retaining a criminal defense attorney can allow you to focus on protecting your legal rights. A skilled lawyer can file motions to suppress evidence, advocate for you in court, and represent your legal interests throughout the entirety of your case. If you are seeking legal representation, then you should hire a drug trafficking lawyer today.
Wake County, North Carolina, has been identified as a high-intensity drug trafficking area related to the distribution of cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl. The Raleigh Police Department has targeted illegal gun and drug activity in Wake County.
Lindsey D. Granados was born in Oklahoma and graduated from Oklahoma Baptist University with a bachelor’s degree in political science. She then graduated from Stetson University College of Law in Gulfport, Florida, and now handles all criminal matters from traffic tickets to DWIs, drug charges, and assaults.
Tomas Nazer-Paniagua earned his bachelor’s degree from Appalachian State University and obtained his law degree from Campbell University Norman A. Wiggins School of Law. He previously clerked at the North Carolina Court of Appeals. He is practicing in the areas of criminal defense and post-conviction appellate work.
Out of 61,678 cases reported to the United States Sentencing Commission in 2024, approximately 18,029 of those cases were related to drug trafficking. In 2024, the DEA seized 9,950 kilograms of fentanyl, approximately twenty-nine percent less than the previous year.
Simple Possession is generally a small quantity of a controlled substance related to personal use. Possession can be either misdemeanor or felony, depending on the specific type of drug involved. Penalties for this offense are based on the type of drug and the defendant’s prior criminal history. Possession with Intent to Manufacture/Sell/Deliver (or PWISD or PWIMSD) controlled substances are more than simple possession amounts, but less than trafficking weights for drugs.
Trafficking is related to large quantities of a controlled substance found in the defendant’s possession. Oftentimes, prosecutors will charge someone with multiple counts of Trafficking for the same drugs, but charged as Trafficking by Possession, Trafficking by Transportation, and Trafficking by Sale or Delivery. Having multiple counts of the offense can drastically increase the potential for lengthy prison sentences, making negotiating a lesser sentence absolutely necessary.
Even if the defendant planned to use the controlled substance personally, the defendant can still be considered trafficking. For example, if someone has a pill bottle full of oxycodone, but lacks a prescription for the same, that could potentially rise to a Trafficking weight of an opiate.
Drug trafficking in North Carolina is determined by the quantity/weight of any particular controlled substance the defendant possesses. Prosecutors working for the state must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that a defendant knowingly manufactured, possessed, delivered, sold, or transported large amounts of specific controlled substances. The state may also bring charges based on both actual possession and constructive possession.
Drug trafficking under North Carolina law is classified according to the quantity of the drug being sold, transported, or manufactured. Possessing specific amounts of particular types of drugs can lead to a trafficking charge, and this charge will carry mandatory minimum prison sentences. Twenty-eight grams of cocaine may lead to a trafficking charge, and four grams of heroin can lead to a trafficking charge.
Drug charges under North Carolina law are prosecuted under the Controlled Substances Act, and this statute classifies drugs into six schedules. Criminal penalties are categorized based on the defendant’s previous criminal history, the quantity of drugs seized, and the type of drug in the defendant’s possession. Defendants may be charged with a misdemeanor or a felony and face jail time and fines.
Drug trafficking cases are complex and often require extensive legal research and motion drafting. If you are facing drug trafficking charges in Wake County, North Carolina, then you should reach out to an experienced criminal defense attorney today. Retaining legal counsel can enable you to determine if the state violated your legal rights under the Fourth Amendment.
The Granados Law Group has a knowledgeable team that can help you determine the next steps to take in your case. If you are searching for legal representation, contact us today to schedule a consultation. We can review the facts of your case and analyze important documents such as police reports, warrants, and indictments. We are here to help you protect your liberty in Wake County, North Carolina.
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