Protecting Your Rights in Drug Offence Cases

Our knowledge and experience in these cases allows us to be proactive and effective not only in managing your case, but also in securing the best possible outcome.

In some cases, a challenge on the basis of illegal search or seizure for lack of reasonable and probable grounds is appropriate. I will closely examine the unique issues in your case and build a defence specifically designed to address them.

More information on your Charter rights is available here.

Our goal is always to win an acquittal for you, and we won’t recommend a plea bargain unless we believe that it is the best option in your case.

If the Crown has a compelling and overwhelming case against you, we will work to negotiate a result that minimizes the impact on your freedom and your future.

Possession of Drugs for the Purpose of Trafficking

A person in possession of a large quantity of drugs for personal use may be charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking when no trafficking activity ever took place. Circumstances that can lead to these charges may include how the drugs are packaged and possession of items or paraphernalia common to drug trafficking, such as multiple cell phones, scales, weapons and debt lists.

If you are facing charges of possession of drugs or controlled substances for the purpose of trafficking, we will do everything legally possible to mount a strong defence. We will uncover the details behind any drug arrest, including investigating the evidence against you, to interviewing witnesses and developing effective constitutional challenges to your arrest and search.

My goal is always to win an acquittal for you, and we won’t recommend a plea bargain unless we believe that it is the best option in your case.

If the Crown has a compelling and overwhelming case against you, we will work to minimize the impact on your freedom and your future.

What is the sentence for drug trafficking?

Section 7.1 of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act provides as follows:

7.1 (1) No person shall possess, produce, sell, import or transport anything intending that it will be used

(a) to produce a controlled substance, unless the production of the controlled substance is lawfully authorized; or

(b) to traffic in a controlled substance.

(2) Every person who contravenes subsection (1)

(a) if the subject matter of the offence is a substance included in Schedule I, II, III or V,

(i) is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term of not more than 10 years, or

(ii) is guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction and liable to imprisonment for a term of not more than 18 months; and

(b) if the subject matter of the offence is a substance included in Schedule IV,

(i) is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term of not more than three years, or

(ii) is guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction and liable to imprisonment for a term of not more than one year.