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Our experienced drug lawyers have a long track record of successfully defending clients facing serious and complex drug charges. These offences are treated with the utmost seriousness by NSW Courts and can result in heavy fines or lengthy prison sentences.
A conviction for a drug related criminal offence can have lasting consequences, including a criminal record that may impact your employment opportunities and restrict your ability to travel to certain countries. That’s why it’s critical to have expert legal representation on your side.
We use strategic, immediate action as Sydney specialist drug lawyers to help clients avoid criminal convictions for drug related offences or minimise penalties.
Our clients benefit from several key advantages when represented by our criminal defence lawyers:
Call one of our Sydney criminal lawyers today on (02) 7804 2823 for a free consultation to discuss your case.
The following is a list of the various types of drug offences that you can be charged with, as outlined by the Drug Misuse and Trafficking Act 1985 (NSW). To learn more about each of the below charges, follow the links to our dedicated pages:
In recent years, police have expanded the ways they detect and investigate drug possession and drug supply offences. These methods include the use of drug detection dogs, undercover operations, and surveillance devices.
As a result, there has been a noticeable increase in the detection and prosecution of drug-related offences.
At Astor Legal, our specialist drug lawyers have extensive experience defending clients against a wide range of drug charges. We’re with you every step of the way, ensuring your rights are protected and your case is handled with the best care. Here’s how we support you:
Below are some of the most common defences to drug charges that we may be able to argue for your case.
Drug Possession:
Handled in the Local Court. Maximum penalty: 2 years’ imprisonment and/or $5,500 fine.
Drug Supply:
The penalty for drug possession charges for first-time offenders in NSW is generally limited to a fine, with a maximum amount of $2,200. However, the maximum penalty for drug possession can reach up to 2 years in prison for more serious offences.
There is a possibility of a section 10 no conviction recorded for drug possession charges in NSW if you have been found guilty, depending on multiple factors. This outcome is most likely in mild cases where the defendant is a first-time offender.
In Australia, jail time for drug dealing ranges from up to 2 years for small quantities, to 15–20 years for larger quantities, and up to life imprisonment for large commercial quantities, especially for serious drugs like heroin or cocaine.
Drug Type | Small quantity | Trafficable quantity | Indictable quantity | Commercial quantity | Large Commercial quantity |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Amphetamine | 1 gram | 3 grams | 5 grams | 250 grams | 500 grams |
Cannabis leaf | 30 grams | 300 grams | 1kg | 25kg | 100kg |
Cannabis plant | N/A | 5 plants | 50 plants | 250 plants/50 plants (if cultivated by enhanced indoor means) | 200 plants/1000 plants (if cultivated by enhanced indoor means) |
Cocaine | 1 gram | 3 grams | 5 grams | 250 grams | 1 kg |
Ketamine | 2.5 grams | 7.5 grams | 12.5 grams | 1.25 kg | 5 kg |
LSD | 0.0008 gram | 0.003 gram | 0.005 gram | 0.0005 kg | 0.002 kg |
MDMA | 0.25 gram | 0.75 gram | 1.25 gram | 125 grams | 500 grams |
Methylamphetamine | 1 gram | 3 grams | 5 grams | 250 grams | 500 grams |