Crimes Involving Drugs

Our lawyers note that the most basic drug-related crime for which people seek legal advice is the trafficking, growth, and processing of toxic drugs, narcotics, and psychotropic substances. Narcotics, a class of drugs, make you want to sleep and numb pain (eg. Heroin or cocaine). However, psychotropic or psychoactive substances affect mental processes. Many drugs can fall into this category as it is an open term. Our lawyers provide advice regarding crimes including drug possession, participation, and preparation for drug trafficking.

This includes sending money to obtain drugs which you will then sell on, the sale of tools to aid drug consumption and selling the ingredients used to produce drugs. Outside of this type of crime is the possession of drugs for personal use and self-consumption, however, these are still punishable offenses. Our Spanish lawyers will be able to advise you should you have a similar case. The trafficking of drugs refers to the trade of drugs for money. The regulations against drug trafficking focus on the mobility, spread, and dispersal of drugs. Any means of introducing the drugs onto the market is considered illegal. This includes the purchase, sale, transportation, trade, posting and the retail of drugs on a small scale.

Legality

The legality of drug possession depends on whether the holder has the aim of promoting or initiating drug use. It also considers whether they are for personal or commercial use. Our lawyers have seen that the availability of these drugs is sometimes more important than the subject’s possession of substances. Many drug traffickers on a large scale do not have direct contact with the drugs. The law states that the purity of the drugs, their handling, whether the possessor is holding substantial quantities of money or tools used to take drugs if the drugs were hidden, the attitude of the possessor towards the police and whether the person is drug-dependent are factors considered by legal officials when prosecuting.

The quantity of drugs which a person can possess without being punished is usually equivalent to the minimum psychoactive dose. Our lawyers note that in some rulings, the court has set out quantities as the minimum doses. Examples include cocaine, 50 milligrams; marijuana, 10 milligrams; heroin, 66 milligrams; LSD, 20 micrograms; MDMA, 20 milligrams; and morphine, 2 milligrams.

Sentences

The punishment for drug-related crimes depends on the type of drug involved and whether they carry a serious health risk. For trafficking drugs which seriously affects the user’s health, our lawyers have seen sentences of between 3 – 6 years and a fine. Drugs in this category include heroin, speed, MDMA, MDA, MDEA, LSD, methadone… However, there could be mitigating circumstances, which consider and include the personal circumstances of the offender. Our lawyers have seen these reduce the sentences received by offenders.

On the other hand, substances which cause less severe danger to public health, sentences would fall between 1 and 3 years and a fine. Our legal experts understand that Marijuana and Rohypnol are both in this class.

Sentences vary from case to case, so it is important to seek the help of an experienced lawyer in Spain. Our attorneys can provide you with the most relevant and up to date advice.

Aggravating Circumstances

The punishments mentioned previously refer to the basic type of crime, but aggravated circumstances can also be present which can increase the punishment or result in the application of articles with a more severe sentence. Factors may include: belonging to a criminal organization, giving drugs to minors or possessing a high amount of drugs (of significant importance), amongst other cases.

There are also articles which reduce the punishments, such as article 373, referring to behavior such as conspiration.

Similarly more dangerous drugs tend to carry longer sentences and heftier fines

Should you need further information, or legal advice with regards to drug-related crimes, please do not hesitate to contact our lawyers.

Disclaimer: This information in this article is not definitive, for up to date legal advice which is relevant to your case please contact our lawyers.