With the opioid overdose epidemic at an all-time high, the public’s attention has been on those who lost their lives due to heroin and fentanyl. However, in recent months, law enforcement agencies have focused on other aspects of overdoses—specifically, where did the drugs come from and who sold them? Law enforcement is looking to get these dangerous drugs and the people who sell them off the streets.
Opioid overdose deaths can spark criminal investigations that authorities hope will lead to drug charges against other individuals. Such investigations involve tracing the drugs that killed the person with the hope of identifying the street dealers, and even where mid-level dealers got the drugs. This can lead to the arrests of people thought to be higher-level distributors or drug traffickers, who then must defend against serious drug-related charges.
The good news is that the highly qualified defense attorneys at Koffsky & Felsen, LLC are ready to help anyone facing any type of narcotics charges. If you’re under investigation or have been arrested, your first call should be to a Connecticut drug trafficking defense attorney.
Defending State and Federal Drug Trafficking Charges
The first thing we do at Koffsky & Felsen, LLC understands the full scope of your criminal case. This includes understanding which authorities are investigating you and in which court you’ve been charged.
Often, opioid cases start with state law enforcement. Yet when an overdose death happens, federal agencies are also informed. If the feds believe that a trafficking ring may have supplied the narcotics, they may get involved in the investigation or completely take over the case. This can lead to an extensive investigation that can trace the drugs far back and may result in charges in federal criminal court. If you’ve been charged on the federal level, you need an attorney with specific experience in federal court.
Trafficking is one of the most serious drug charges you can face, but you can defend yourself if you’re accused of being part of a trafficking ring. Strategies include:
- You were in the wrong place at the wrong time and were not associated with the drug operation.
- You didn’t know you were transporting any drugs—they were unknowingly planted on you as you traveled.
- You were forced to transport drugs under duress.
- You were never in actual or constructive possession of any narcotics.
Whether you can use any of the above in your case will depend on your specific circumstances.
In addition to presenting such defenses, your attorney can also identify when police unlawfully obtained evidence. Police investigations can often be sloppy—when officers get wrapped up in catching people high up on the drug ladder, following the law can go by the wayside. When that happens, police often gather evidence in violation of a defendant’s Fourth Amendment rights. If law enforcement searches for and finds drug evidence without a proper warrant or without other exigent circumstances, your lawyer can fight to have that drug evidence excluded from your case. Without proof that drugs existed, prosecutors may lack any evidence to support your possession—or distribution— of narcotics. In this situation, prosecutors may have to drop your charges.
Both state and federal drug trafficking charges can be very serious, and you may face mandatory prison time if convicted. A death from an opioid overdose is a serious matter and the police may not always take proper steps in their investigation. This type of investigation can lead to false accusations, officers playing loosely with the constitutional rights of suspects, and other unfortunate circumstances.
Discuss Your Situation With a Connecticut Drug Trafficking Defense Lawyer at Koffsky & Felsen, LLC
If you are suspected or accused of drug trafficking by state or federal authorities, you need the attorneys of Koffsky & Felsen, LLC on your side. With experience in both state and federal criminal court, our legal team will design the most effective defense strategy possible in your case. Call our office at (203) 327-1500 or contact us online for more information.
