Every
military member should know that all branches take any type of alleged drug
possession, use, manufacture, or distribution very seriously and that the Uniform
Code of Military Justice (UCMJ)1 sets out harsh penalties for
members convicted of these offenses. UCMJ
Article 112a addresses allegations of:
- Wrongful
use of controlled substances;
- Wrongful
possession of controlled substances;
- Wrongful
manufacture of controlled substances;
- Wrongful
distribution of controlled substances;
- Wrongful
importation of controlled substances into the U.S.;
- Wrongful
exportation of controlled substances; and,
- Wrongful
introduction of controlled substances onto a military installation, vessel,
vehicle, or aircraft.
One military
offense that is taken particularly seriously is drug smuggling (importation,
distribution, introduction). Smuggling
allegations arise when the military believes a member or members have tried to
sneak illegal substances into the United States from foreign countries, usually
countries where the military member was deployed. Being accused of drug
smuggling is an extremely serious matter and anyone facing such allegations
needs a highly skilled and experienced defense attorney, who practices military
law, on their side as soon as possible.
Smuggling
arrests in the military are more common than you may believe
Within the
last decade, several drug smuggling cases involving the military have made
headlines. For example:
- Two Air National Guard members
were arrested for importing nearly 300,000 ecstasy pills into New York
using a military plane.
- A sergeant in the Army received
an extended prison sentence for allegedly smuggling cocaine from Colombia.
- An undercover FBI sting called
Operation Lively Green ended in the arrest of dozens of military members
who had apparently agreed to help smuggle over 1,000 pounds of cocaine
from Mexico. Many members were convicted and sentenced to various punishments,
including prison sentences, as a result.
These are
only a few examples of drug smuggling accusations in the military. The
government takes these charges very seriously because word of suspected
smuggling rings is thought to lower the confidence of the American people and
cause them to worry about national security. However, any experienced military
defense attorney understands that an allegation of drug smuggling does not mean
there will be a conviction, and there are a number of legal motions and defenses
an experienced attorney can identify to limit or possibly eliminate the
consequences you face.
Contact
an experienced military drug offense defense attorney as soon as possible
If you are
a military member facing any type of drug allegations in violation of UCMJ
Article 112a, it is critical that you seek assistance from a highly experienced
military defense attorney who understands how to defend against these charges.
At the Military Defense Law Offices of Richard V. Stevens, PC, we have successfully helped many
military members defend against serious charges, so please call our office for
help at 800-988-0602 today.
