Drug Conspiracy Solicitors

At Conspiracy Solicitors, we specialise in all aspects of drugs offences from the least serious, which are dealt with in the Magistrates Court, to the most serious offences which are tried in the Crown Court.

We are repeatedly asked to assist clients who have already, at some time during the course of an investigation or Court proceedings, instructed solicitors but are for whatever reason not happy with their representation. We are used to dealing with such enquiries and advising as to the transfer of a case from previous solicitors to this practice. We believe that it is important for a client to feel confident in their legal representation and feel that their drug case lawyer is doing everything he or she can to assist.

Take a look at our guide to transferring your case to Conspiracy Solicitors.

If you have been arrested, are due to be interviewed by police or have been charged with a drug conspiracy offence, we can offer specialist, expert representation from our drug solicitors to give you the best possible defence.

Call 01476 591711 or use our simple contact form to request a call back from one of our drug offence solicitors.

Call 07535 215140 at any time 24/7 for urgent police station representation

Types of serious drug offences we can assist with

Our specialist drug conspiracy defence solicitors have decades of experience representing clients in relation to a wide range of drug conspiracy charges. We can offer the detailed knowledge of these complex offences and the various opportunities to avoid charges, see charges dropped or secure the minimum penalties where conviction is unavoidable.

Possession Of Drugs

If you are caught in physical possession of a drug you will be charged with possession. This applies even whether or not you knew the drug was a “controlled substance”, although there is a defence under section 28 Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 if you can prove that you neither knew, nor suspected nor had reason to suspect that the substance was a controlled drug. You will be charged with straightforward possession of a controlled substance if you are found to have any amount of a Class A drug, e.g. Heroin, Ecstasy, or more than a minimal quantity of a Class B or Class C drug, e.g. Cannabis.

The maximum sentence which can be imposed for possession of a controlled substance is 7 years imprisonment or an unlimited fine in the Crown Court for possession of Class A substances.

Supplying Or Offering To Supply Drugs

This offence involves the intention of passing on a controlled substance to another person. This offence is made out even where the supply is between friends for free, for example sharing cannabis or MDMA with a friend. The supply of a controlled substance is a very serious offence indeed and dealt with as such in the Courts.

These offences can be dealt with either in the Magistrates Court or the Crown Court depending upon the severity of the case and the amounts involved. The maximum sentence for this offence is life imprisonment or an unlimited fine within the Crown Court for supplying a Class A controlled substance.

Our experience has shown recently that with reduced resources, the police are targeting people who are actually supplying controlled substances as opposed to clients who have a small amount of drugs for personal use.

We have defended many cases involving the supply of controlled drugs, ranging from small amounts of cannabis, cocaine or heroin, up to huge drugs conspiracies involving large quantities of drugs and many defendants from all over the country. In many cases we have secured Not Guilty verdicts for our clients, or have persuaded judges to dismiss cases at half-time due to evidential or disclosure problems.

We are familiar with the issues arising where large drugs conspiracy cases are prosecuted. This ranges from managing the large volume of paperwork and evidence involved, to dealing with telephone billing, cell site evidence and covert policing methods.

Where all else fails we’re experienced in dealing with the sentencing process, and have often been able to obtain advantageous sentences for our clients or have sentences which were excessive reduced on appeal.

Production Of Controlled Drugs

Conspiracy Solicitors have immense experience in dealing with production of controlled drugs offences, some of which have attracted extensive interest from the national media.

This offence covers the cultivation and/or manufacturing of controlled drugs, whether it be half a dozen cannabis plants in the loft or garage, or an extensive commercial grow worth thousands of pounds. You may commit the offence if you were directly or indirectly involved with the production process. Indirect involvement could be the letting out of premises for the purposes of cultivation, where you are aware that production is taking place.

Of course, it is for the Prosecution to prove that you were actively involved in some way and if they can’t do that their case should fail.

The offence is made out where:

  1. A controlled drug is being produced;
  2. There was some link between you and the production process;
  3. That you knew a controlled substance was being produced.

We have dealt with many of these cases, and have, for example, been able on occasion to persuade judges to exclude important Prosecution evidence due to concerns about the manner in which police conducted searches, with the result that cases collapsed.

Production Of Controlled Substances With Intent To Supply

A separate charge of Production With Intent To Supply will apply if the prosecution can show that you have produced a controlled substance with the intention of supplying it to another. This will usually arise in circumstances where there is a large-scale commercial production.

The same issues of complexity would arise as in other large-scale drug cases. We’re experienced in dealing with these issues so if you need help, we are the right place to come.

These are very serious offences and it is important therefore that you are properly advised by a solicitor and/or a barrister at each and every stage of the investigation. We at Conspiracy Solicitors have a wealth of knowledge in all types of drugs offences.

Other aspects of drugs law

Amongst the other drugs cases we’ve dealt with, we also have experience of the law relating to drugs searches. In one case we obtained the acquittal of a client who was alleged to have tried to smuggle cocaine into a prison. The evidence was thrown out after we exposed flaws in the searching process which had rendered all the searching conducted unlawful.

Another common issue in drugs prosecutions is confiscation and proceeds of crime. We’ve dealt with many complex POCA hearings and can advise you about what may follow in these circumstances.

Sentencing for drug supply offences is complex, and sentences can range from fairly small to extremely long. The sentence which is imposed will depend on the following features:

  • The type of drugs involved: Class A, B or C, Cocaine, Heroin, Cannabis etc
  • The amount or value of the drugs involved: small amount or a much larger amount worth thousands of pounds
  • The role of the individual: leading (an importer or wholesale supplier), significant (a smaller wholesaler or an organiser in some other way, or major street dealers) or lesser (couriers and junior runners)
  • Whether there was a plea or a conviction after trial
  • Previous convictions, whether offence was on licence or on bail
  • Length of time over which the offence was committed.

There are of course many other variables, and every case is different. For an example of the features looked for and considered you can always look at the Sentencing Council’s Definitive Sentencing Guideline for Drugs Offences.

Common questions about drug conspiracy offences

Is conspiracy more serious than supplying?

This all depends on a variety of factors, including the role you have in a conspiracy to supply drugs.

If you are considered to have played a minor, subordinate role in a conspiracy to supply drugs, then the penalties may be less serious than if you were convicted of a simple offence of supplying drugs.

However, if you are found to have held a major controlling role in a drug supply conspiracy, then the penalties on conviction could be much more serious than for a standard offence of suppling drugs.

What sentence will I receive for conspiracy to supply Drugs?

This will depend on various factors, including:

  • The role you played in the conspiracy e.g. whether you had a minor, subordinate role in carrying out someone else’s plan or where a key played in planning the overall criminal operation
  •  The scale of the offence e.g. the class, quantity and value of the drugs involved
  • The length of time over which any offences took place
  • Your level of awareness that you were that you were involved in a criminal conspiracy
  • Whether you plead guilty and, if so, at which stage of proceedings
  • If you were pressured, intimidated or coerced into taking part in the conspiracy
  • Any previous convictions on your record

Will I get remanded for possession with intent?

If you are charged with possession with intent to supply drugs, you may be put on remand and sent to prison or a secure centre for young people to await trial.Whether or not you are put on remand will depend on various factors, including:

  • The class, amount and value of the drugs involved
  • Any previous convictions you have
  • If the police believe you may not attend your court hearing
  • If the police believe you may commit another crime if released on bail
  • If you have been given bail before and not stuck to the terms

In this situation, our drug supply solicitors can provide expert legal representation to give you the best possible defence.

Do I have to give my phone PIN in a drugs case?

If you are arrested by police, you do not automatically have to give them the PIN for your phone or other mobile device if requested.

However, if you are served with a notice under Section 49 of the Regulations of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 requiring you to provide police with your PIN, then continuing to refuse to do so is a criminal offence.

Before giving your PIN to police or refusing to do so, it is essential to have specialist legal advice, so we recommend speaking to our expert serious drug offences solicitors as soon as you are arrested to ensure you do not do anything which could harm your defence or result in additional criminal charges.

What is Conspiracy?

Conspiracy is an agreement between two or more people who agree to carry out and commit a crime. However, given that the term ‘agreement’ is not defined in legislation, it can be interpreted in several ways and so even if you are in the wrong place at the wrong time, you can be deemed ‘conspiring’ to commit an offence.

Our experienced drug conspiracy solicitors have represented people who have been wrongly accused of conspiracy to supply drugs. There can be occasions where the Prosecution takes advantage of the vague definition of ‘agreement’ and charge people based on social media communications. Our team have successfully proved that our clients have not in fact conspired to supply drugs and have gained an acquittal.

How to fund your defence against drug conspiracy charges

Securing police station representation for serious drug offences

You are entitled to free legal advice when arrested or interviewed by the police. While you can use the duty solicitor available at the police station, we strongly recommend choosing your own legal representative with specialist experience in drug conspiracy cases.

Our highly experienced drug conspiracy defence solicitors are available 24/7 for police station representation by calling 07535215140.

Legal aid for drug conspiracy prosecutions

If you are prosecuted for a drug conspiracy offence, then depending on the circumstances some or all of the cost of your defence may be covered with a Representation Order (a.k.a. ‘legal aid’).

Representation Orders are means-tested, so what, if any, support you can get will depend on your  personal financial circumstances.

For Magistrates’ Court prosecutions, you will need to pass a merit test as well as a means test. This merit test is intended to show whether it is in the ‘Interests of Justice’ for you to have a legal defence.

Any contribution you make towards your defence costs will be repaid with interest if you are found not guilty.

Find out more about Funding Your Drug Defence.

Contact our drug conspiracy solicitors now

Facing a drug conspiracy charge? Get in touch with our expert criminal defence team now for advice or immediate representation.

To speak to our drug conspiracy solicitors, use our simple contact form or one of the numbers below:

01476 591711/strong> – for standard enquiries to our drug offence lawyers during office hours

07535 215140 – for 24/7 emergency support including police station representation

If you need advice from an expert drugs conspiracy solicitor, come to Conspiracy Solicitors.