Drug trafficking is a serious crime. In fact, in many instances, it’s a felony, depending on the type of drug that’s being moved. Knowing the differences between various terms can help people who might be involved in drug trafficking or another type of crime involving drugs to better understand their crime and what legal avenues they can take when in the state of Florida.
Consequences of drug trafficking
First of all, there are a lot of different classifications for the seriousness of the crime of drug trafficking depending on what type of drug it is and how much of the drug was being transported. For instance, trafficking gamma-butyrolactone in any form is considered a felony, but the consequences can vary according to the amount that’s being trafficked. For instance, anything that’s one kilogram or more but less than five kilograms will have a minimum sentence of three years in prison. But anyone who is trafficking at least five kilograms but not more than 10 years will have a minimum sentence of 7 years and a fine of $100,000.
Difference between drug trafficking and drug smuggling
You should also be aware that there are differences between drug trafficking and drug smuggling. Trafficking is a term that encompasses a much larger range of activities. For instance, trafficking involves purchasing, selling, manufacturing, bringing into the state, delivering, or being in possession of a drug. In contrast, smuggling is more specific. It involves moving an illegal substance across state lines or from one country to the next. Otherwise, if it’s a legal substance, in order for the activity to be considered smuggling, it must be moved hidden as a means of avoiding paying taxes and customs duties.
Anyone who is interested in learning more about the smuggling and trafficking of drugs should find out what activities are and are not illegal. Both drug trafficking and smuggling can have prison time and fines associated with them, and knowing now what the laws are can be useful in the long run.
