Conspiracy to Supply Drug Cases Explained
When being charged with conspiracy to supply class A drugs, it is essential to get legal advice, support and representation. This ensures you will have the best possible chance of the best and fairest outcome.
Drug charges can be a really complex area of the law. Depending on the situation, you could be facing prosecution. This depends largely on the evidence and details within the case, along with your overall defence case.
We are here to help explain the conspiracy to supply class A drug charges, giving you all the information you need to know about this charge, whilst letting you know that we are here to help and what you can do. Contact our expert team of drug conspiracy solicitors today, and keep reading for more information on this topic.
What Does It Mean by ‘Conspiracy to Supply Class A Drugs’?
The conspiracy to supply drugs refers to when someone makes the agreement to sell, transfer and distribute drugs to other people. Conspiracy to supply class A drugs can involve the planning, arranging, carrying out or any behaviour intended to contribute to the class A drug supply chain.
No matter if the supply to others actually takes place, or whether there has been any kind of financial gain, contributing to the process is enough to charge with conspiracy. The actions, however, should be clear enough to show that they intended to contribute to the offence.
Driving a vehicle to ship drugs from one location to another, for example, would contribute to the charge of conspiracy to supply class A drugs. The actions in this example contribute to the supply chain, though the act of driving the vehicle is not a crime by itself.
The bottom line is that being in any way involved in the crime of drug distribution can cause you to be charged with conspiracy. You don’t have to directly partake in drug deals or criminal activity first-hand - you just have to be involved in the process.
When Is One Prosecuted for Conspiracy to Supply Drugs?
The conspiracy to supply drug charges can be highly complex. They usually rely on a substantial amount of evidence along with careful consideration of the case and all the relevant laws which help to determine the outcome of the case. This helps decide the best outcome and course of action.
If police can provide evidence against the suspect that suggests they were involved with the planning that led to the drugs being distributed, then prosecution for conspiracy to supply drugs may be likely.
The definition of being involved in a conspiracy drug charge is open to some interpretation. It’s not uncommon for some people to get caught up unintentionally in a conspiracy to supply drug charges, without even realising it, sometimes just being in ‘the wrong place at the wrong time’.
What Are Recognised as Class A Drugs?
The list of drugs in the UK that is currently listed as class A’s are as follows:
- Cocaine
- Crack cocaine
- Ecstasy (MDMA)
- LSD
- Magic mushrooms
- Heroin
- Methamphetamine (crystal meth)
- Methadone
Sentencing Guidelines of Conspiracy to Supply Class A Drugs
The sentencing of the conspiracy to supply class A drugs will depend on several things. Firstly, whether the proceedings are held in the Magistrates’ Court or the Crown Court.
The sentencing, of course, will largely depend on your role in the conspiracy case. Whether you had a leading role, significant role or lesser role in the case being investigated. This will be a big part of what sentencing and punishment you receive.
Magistrates’ Court
For sentencing in the Magistrates’ court for conspiracy to supply class A drugs, the maximum sentence can include either a fine of up to a total of £5000, up to 6 months in prison, or both.
Crown Court
For the Crown Court, sentencing for the charge of conspiracy to supply class A drugs can be an unlimited fine and can include a prison sentence of up to life imprisonment. You can receive either one of these punishments or both.
Other sentencing lengths and penalty charges amounts may be considered - for example, if you are being sentenced for the conspiracy to supply class B or class C drugs.
Factors That Can Affect Your Sentence
Different factors can affect sentencing with conspiracy to supply class A drugs. Factors such as whether you have chosen to plead guilty, or happen to be found guilty of the charge. Other factors to consider that can affect your sentencing can include:
- At what certain stage of the proceedings do you choose to plead guilty
- Whatever your role was in the conspiracy to supply class A drugs
- How big of a scale the offence you were involved in was - including the quality and value of the class A drugs
- If you have any previous convictions on your criminal record
- The time over which offences were committed
- The awareness and understanding of you and the conspiracy
- Whether or not you took part due to pressure, intimidation or because of coercion
Bell Lamb & Joynson
Our criminal law solicitors are expertly trained to get you the best possible outcome that we can. Specialising in drug offences, our drug conspiracy solicitors have the skills and expertise to ensure all factors are taken into consideration to help you to achieve the best possible outcome for your case and with the lightest penalties if you are found guilty or plead guilty in court.
Get in touch with us now at Bell Lamb & Joynson if you wish to receive the best advice whilst establishing all of the necessary and relevant facts. We can help you with avoiding drug charges, seeing existing charges dropped or helping you to get the least severe penalty possible in our power.
It doesn’t matter what your circumstances are, we can help you today and are passionate about helping you get the best outcome. Contact us via email, phone or web chat, all of our details can be found on our website. A member of our criminal law team will be waiting to answer your enquiry.