Transportation of a Controlled Substance

The illegal drug industry receives a lot of attention on the production and use of controlled substances, but one aspect of the supply chain that is also important to understand is the transportation of the illegal drugs. In California, the Health and Safety Code 11352 deems illegal the transportation, importation, or selling of controlled substances. The law is even more restrictive in that it will also punish those who offer or attempt to do the aforementioned, even if the action is not fulfilled.

Furthermore, this specific code is relating to the transportation of drugs specifically for sale, and generally applies to drugs like heroin, cocaine, LSD and other opiates. Another important note is that this code also prohibits an individual from giving away the drugs, even if they don’t receive payment in return.

Given that HS 11352 can apply to a variety of individuals, like an experienced drug transporter to someone who shares their drugs with their friends, many people can be charged under this code and not expect it. If someone is charged with violating HS 11352, they face severe consequences as the crime is classified as a felony. A defendant that has been found guilty can receive a punishment of up to nine years in a California jail and a fine (at a maximum of $20,000).
Therefore, if someone has been charged with transporting, selling, or giving away controlled substances, they must seek the counsel of an experienced criminal attorney, like those at the Law Advocates Group, LLP. Depending on the circumstance of the case, an attorney can argue that the defendant never attempted, offered, or sold drugs, or even that the drugs in question were not meant to be transported and were instead for their own use.