Production of a Controlled Drug

If you’ve been contacted by the police in any way about your involvement or there are allegations about your involvement in a drug offence of this nature, it’s important that you know which steps to take to protect yourself.

The law courts can be a frightening place. Being accused of producing drugs could mean facing a tough prison sentence.

Engaging good criminal law solicitors mean that you can rely upon their knowledge and defence drug experts to reduce the evidence to its reality. It is vital that you seek expert advice early on in the case to retain the maximum chances of success.

The police may have evidence that you’ve been involved in drug production. They may have proof from surveillance cameras, undercover police officers, when you were stopped and searched or through another means. This is a situation where it’s in your favour to seek the advice of a good legal team immediately.

Feeling anxious about what might happen to you at this point is natural. To provide you with the emotional and practical support that you need at a time like this, we’ve provided some answers to typical questions on this page.

If you have any questions that you cannot find an answer below, feel free to contact us for further guidance. Call us on 0208 888 5225. We are always happy to speak with you about what to expect and which steps you should take.

Have you been arrested or charged with Production of Drugs?

If you or somebody close to you has been charged or arrested in connection with a production of drugs investigation, it’s understandable if you feel stressed out, worried and frightened. The outcome of the investigation will be on your mind. If the case does not come to a positive conclusion, you could be imprisoned and unable to provide for your dependents or pay your mortgage.

In production of drugs cases the police often inflate the commercial value of the drugs which has a direct impact on any sentence a court will pass as well as creating a false narrative to any potential jury hearing the case.

Engaging a competent drug offences lawyer is vital to obtaining a positive outcome.

What type of actions are considered Production of Drugs?

The production of drugs offence includes cannabis cultivation and the manufacturing of quantities for commercial or personal use.

When passing sentencing for this crime, the evidence will be classified as being in one of four categories. These categories examine areas such as the class of drug, the quantity of the drug, and the role the individual played. Whether the offender has been previously convicted or has entered pleas prior will not be taken into account.

Whatever your unique circumstances are, it’s critical that you do not attend a police interview without being accompanied by an experienced solicitor. You may be invited by the police for a ‘chat’, or they tell you that they want you to explain to them your version of events. Whether it’s a telephone conversation or a meeting, do not speak to the police without a lawyer. Any communication could be used as evidence to prove you’re guilty.

In summary, it’s essential that you take a qualified, skilful and experienced legal representative with you to the police station. Without doing this, you could be put at risk of being convicted.

What happens in a Production of Drugs investigation?

Being involved in a production of drugs investigation is very stressful. You’ll understandably feel worried and anxious. You’ll wonder whether you’ll have to go to trial and then be handed a lengthy prison sentence. You’ll also worry whether you’ll be able to provide for your dependents while you’re in prison. Your entire life will feel upside down and uncertain.

The police are likely to want to speak with you. If you haven’t already been arrested, they will ask you to the police station for a police interview.

You may have been falsely accused of production of drugs

In some cases, our clients have been falsely accused with the production of drugs allegations. It’s possible that there has been some confusion about who is involved. If this sounds like something that has happened to you, we may be able to get your case dismissed before it reaches court.

Without a lawyer, you cannot find out more until the interview

You’re very unlikely to be told why you’re being investigated or any other details about your case until you are at the meeting and in a situation where you can be questioned.

What many people find challenging is when law enforcement officers are permitted to investigate every area of your life. This includes access to your phone, social media accounts and email. The purpose of the search is to obtain evidence to prove that you committed a crime. Any evidence collected by the law enforcement officers can be used against you in court.

Instruct a legal professional as soon as possible

Successful results in the production of drug cases require very early intervention to get the charge dismissed. Sometimes negotiating with the prosecution means a more positive outcome. It is critical that you engage a drug offences lawyer or criminal solicitor very early in the case. You will receive guidance on what is best for you to say in response to when the police are interviewing you, you will be informed of the entire court process and you will always feel somebody is ensuring that your case gets the best possible outcome.

Can the police search my home?

The police will request a search warrant so that they can look for evidence in your home or another venue. If they suspect that you have been manufacturing drugs, they may want to visit your workplace or wherever the manufacturing has been taking place. As law enforcement officers, they will be seeking proof to secure your conviction for the offence of the production of drugs.

Could you go to prison for the Production of Drugs?

If your production of controlled drugs case reaches court, you are found guilty and convicted of this crime; you are likely to be handed a stiff prison sentence.

You may also face confiscation proceedings and have your assets frozen and later forfeited.

What type of sentence could you get for Production of Drugs?

Production of drugs is covered under section 4 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. It carries a maximum penalty for Class A production of life imprisonment, for class B and class C it is 14 years in custody. Clearly, being charged under this offence involves a serious risk of imprisonment.

The severity of the sentence depends on the role attributed to you in the production of drugs, combined with the quantity involved and the nature of the operation. The sentencing guidelines council has produced definitive guidance for drugs offences, including the production of drugs.

The sentences could range from a discharge to a maximum of 20 years custody, depending on what the role is that you played.

Read more about sentencing for Production of Controlled Drugs offences.

What mitigating factors may be considered in sentencing?

When sentencing for the production of drugs, your case will be examined closely. The class of drugs, the quantity and your role will be inspected to determine what the most suitable sentence should be. Every case is studied on an individual basis.

We handle drug offence cases regularly and have in-depth knowledge and experience in this field. We can help you by recommending the best course of action to take to mitigate the outcome. No matter what size your case is, get in touch.

Does a conviction for Production of Drugs go on your criminal record?

If your production of drugs offence case is heard in court and you are convicted of the crime, your conviction will be recorded on your CRB / police record.

The period of the endorsement will depend on the nature and length of the sentence imposed on you.

In addition, you will most likely face confiscation proceedings and the prosecution will seek to strip you from your assets or demand a further and additional term of imprisonment for not paying the money.

How Can Stuart Miller Solicitors Help?

For the last 3 decades our criminal defence lawyers have successfully represented individuals accused of the production of drugs such as MDMA, cocaine, crystal meth and ecstasy. Armed with a detailed knowledge of RIPA 2002 and search and seizure laws, we will do all we can to terminate the prosecution at its inception. Our criminal defence lawyers energetic, dynamic and eager to deliver creative solutions for the best possible outcome.

Our criminal defence lawyers have significant experience of classification of drugs and have a tactical understanding of how to defend our clients in these cases. We appreciate the allegations may involve others whom you may or may not trust. Others who may have a leading role compared to you or a lesser role; but others who will also be doing anything they can to avoid a long stint in prison.

Assets & Confiscation

Should you be charged for production of drugs and have savings or valuable assets, the prosecution will seek to restrain your assets pending the conclusion of the criminal trial. Here, our fraud solicitors will assist to obtain proper funding for your living and legal expenses.  They have rightfully the reputation of ‘leaving no stone unturned’ in the defence of the client.

If there are financial confiscation orders in place after a conviction, our fraud solicitors have vast experience of challenging the ‘benefit’ figure and have successfully challenged various assumptions in confiscation proceedings.

How we defend

Preparing against the possibility of someone you know giving evidence against you, or defending themselves in a way which causes detriment to your case is an extremely important role for your criminal defence lawyers. Whilst it is essential that the prosecution evidence is methodically analysed, that illegally obtained evidence is contested and drug valuations or mobile phone cell site evidence is thoroughly challenged; it is also fundamental to prepare you for the day you may be called to give evidence yourself.

Cases often make or break on the back of two issues. The first is exceptional lawyering which empowers knowledgeable criminal defence lawyers to make legal arguments about the evidence or the charges and the second is your ability to give evidence credibly in the witness box.

Our criminal defence lawyers will guide you through the entire, case, they will discuss the important strengths and weakness of the prosecution case with you and ensure you are familiar with the prosecution case. They will prepare you to give evidence to maximise your chances of persuading the jury of your innocence. Simultaneously, we will be looking for legal defects to challenge the lawfulness of the prosecution continuing at all.

Please contact us or call us on 0208 888 5225 and ask to speak to our criminal law solicitors to arrange a meeting, whether in person, online or by telephone.

What will happen when I instruct a drugs offences solicitor?

In order to ensure that the investigation process goes in your favour, it’s essential that you take early action to secure a drugs offence solicitor. The outcome is likely to be a more favourable and positive outcome than you may secure otherwise.

You will feel a lot more at ease about the situation as you’ll know that we are handling it for you. We have a specialist team who are very up to date on benefits rules and regulations.

Would you like to discuss your case before instructing us?

If you’d like to have a no obligation chat with us before you instruct us to take your case, then call us today.

In addition to giving you a free consultation, we can also represent you at the police station if you’ve been arrested. We can look at securing your legal aid.

Please contact us for a face to face meeting or a telephone call. There is a WhatsApp link on this page if that is your preference.