Police departments and federal law enforcement agencies often complete lengthy investigations before pursuing drug trafficking charges. They may track a person’s financial conduct, monitor them in public spaces, intercept their electronic communications and gather compelling evidence.
Other times, seemingly circumstantial details present at the time of an arrest can become the basis for drug trafficking charges. People arrested while in possession of typically benign and relatively common household items, in addition to drugs, could be at greater risk of drug trafficking charges than they might initially realize.
Some household items play a role in drug distribution
If police officers find any type of drug in a person’s possession, drug possession charges are likely. In cases where they note that a person has other potentially problematic items in their possession at the same time, those secondary items could constitute drug paraphernalia that influences the charges the state pursues.
For example, postage scales and small digital scales used to weigh food ingredients could convince law enforcement professionals that an individual intended to repackage and distribute the drugs found in their possession. The state may also question items as simple as plastic sandwich bags or disposable drinking straws, which people sometimes use to contain small quantities of drugs.
Any products associated with weighing, repackaging or possibly even adulterating drugs, such as baby formula owned by a person with no children in their care, could lead to questions about an intent to traffic drugs. Prosecutors often bring the harshest charges they can justify given the circumstances. Anyone facing trafficking, intent to distribute or other serious drug charges may need legal guidance as soon as possible after an arrest as a result.
