In the UK, if you are found with any drug that is not regulated or legal, you can find yourself in a heap of trouble. And even in the case of legal drugs, you are only allowed to carry an amount that is under the limit. Otherwise, again, you will be in a lot of trouble.
In this article, centralchamberslaw.com will guide you on the different kinds of drug offences there are and the penalties you carry.
Drug Trafficking
Drug trafficking is an offence. The act of trafficking drugs can be defined as ‘the possession or supply of controlled drugs. It is a criminal offence, and the penalties for this vary depending on the drug trafficked.
The first class is Class A drug trafficking, which involves trafficking or supplying a class A drug, for example, heroin. This is an offence that carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
The second class is Class B drug trafficking, which involves trafficking or supplying a class B drug, for example, cocaine. This is an offence that carries a maximum sentence of 14 years’ imprisonment.
Finally, there are three other classes: C, D, and E. These cover various other drugs such as cannabis, LSD, and crystal meth. Offences in these classes carry lesser penalties than those already mentioned above, so it is important to check exactly which type of drug you are dealing with when committing a crime under this category.
Production
The UK has some of the world’s most severe penalties for drug production. The law makes it a crime to manufacture, cultivate, import, export, or supply controlled drugs that have been created to sell them.
If you commit this crime in England, Wales, or Northern Ireland, you will also be charged with an additional conspiracy offense to commit drug offences. If you help someone else commit this crime, you could also face life in prison.
Drug production is a serious offence in the UK. If you are convicted of drug production, you could face up to life in prison and a fine of up to £20,000.
The offense of drug production is committed when an individual manufactures or cultivates cannabis or other drugs, intending to supply them to another person. This can take place anywhere in the world, including the UK.
The maximum penalty for drug production offences has been increased from 10 years’ imprisonment to life imprisonment since July 2017.
Possession
Drug possession is an offence in the UK. Although it is only a minor offence, it carries serious penalties and can lead to a criminal record. The law in this area has changed over time and has more recently been updated by the government. This means there are now stricter rules about how long you can keep drugs in your possession before being fined or sent to prison for drug possession offences.
Drug possession can be broken down into two groups:
- Simple
- Aggravated
Simple drug possession is when you have less than an ounce of marijuana or less than one gram of cocaine. You are guilty of simple drug possession if you are found to be in possession of the drugs. This can mean anything from having the drugs on your person to having them in your car or home.
Aggravated drug possession occurs when there’s more than a small amount of drugs in your possession at any time during your arrest or conviction for simple drug possession. The difference between simple and aggravated drug possession is whether or not there’s intent involved with the crime, will you be able to prove that you didn’t know what was in your bag? If not, it’s considered aggravated because you knew what was inside and shouldn’t have had it with you in the first place.
The laws surrounding drug possession are complex, but we’ve simplified them for you below to give you an overview of what you need to know if you’re ever arrested for possession of drugs in the UK:
Possessing any drug without a doctor’s prescription is illegal. If someone has been prescribed these drugs by their doctor, you may be allowed to keep them in their home or car without fear of prosecution, however, if you don’t have a prescription, you must destroy them immediately or face prosecution themselves.
If you have been caught with drugs on them, you will only be charged with possessing them – not using them, so it’s possible that you could escape conviction altogether if you have no intention of using them. If you’re caught
Paraphernalia
The drug paraphernalia offense has been around since the 1970s but only recently became a serious offense. Before then, it was often just considered illegal to have tools for using drugs without being caught by authorities.
Drug paraphernalia is anything that is in connection with the consumption of illegal drugs. It includes items such as pipes and bongs, rolling papers and roach clips, as well as other items that are used specifically for the use of drugs.
Drug paraphernalia is usually classified with other drug-related offences like trafficking and production. However, it can also be considered as an independent offence under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (MDA).
The UK has strict penalties for drug Paraphernalia. If you are caught with drug paraphernalia, you will be charged with a criminal offense. The maximum penalty for the drug Paraphernalia is 5 years in prison and/or an unlimited fine.
Conclusion
If you ever see yourself having a drug charge, our highly qualified lawyers have what it takes to get you out of the charges.
Contact us at centralchamberslaw.com and schedule a free appointment with one of our attorneys to overview your case.
