Trafficking, Importing & Production (CDSA)

Trafficking, importing, and production charges represent the most serious drug offences under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. If you're facing these charges in Kingston, Napanee, Brockville, or Belleville, understanding their severity and mandatory minimum sentences is essential.

Trafficking

Trafficking means selling, giving, transporting, or delivering controlled substances—or offering to do so. This includes:

• Selling drugs for profit
• Giving drugs to others, even for free
• Transporting drugs for others
• Delivering drugs on behalf of others
• Offering to do any of these things

No actual sale or payment is required. Giving drugs to a friend constitutes trafficking under the CDSA.

Importing and Exporting

Importing involves bringing controlled substances into Canada from other countries. This includes:

• Drugs discovered at border crossings
• Mail interception by border services
• International drug operations

Importing charges typically involve border enforcement agencies and often carry mandatory minimum sentences. These charges are prosecuted as serious indictable offences.

Production

Production includes manufacturing, cultivating, or producing controlled substances:

• Growing cannabis beyond legal limits or for commercial purposes
• Operating methamphetamine labs
• Manufacturing synthetic drugs
• Extracting or processing drugs

Production charges carry serious penalties, particularly for large-scale operations or when public safety hazards exist.

Moving Forward

Trafficking, importing, and production charges carry mandatory minimum sentences in many circumstances and typically result in federal imprisonment. These are the most serious drug offences under the CDSA, often involving lengthy sentences that increase with the quantity involved, the substance type, and aggravating factors like organized crime involvement or weapons.

If you're facing trafficking, importing, or production charges in Eastern Ontario, understanding whether mandatory minimums apply, the strength of the Crown's evidence, and the potential sentencing range is essential to addressing these serious allegations.