The opioid epidemic may be taking the American media spotlight, especially in states such as Ohio and West Virginia. Yet other areas in the country are dealing with another type of drug issue: meth trafficking and distribution. The handling of such a drug, with the intent to distribute, comes with serious legal consequences in New York. Some of these consequences are so severe that they inhibit offenders from carrying out normal and healthly lives in the future.
Newsday covered a major arrest that took place recently in New York, where five people schemed to ship 1,300 pounds of methamphethine from Long Island to other tristate locations by smuggling the drugs in wax candles. As bizarre as the scheme may sound, Newsday points out that drug trafficking organizations in the area have the primary intent to popularize the use of meth in the Northeast. This particular organization was looking to convert the meth into crystal meth, but the original source for the drugs is uknown.
When it comes to actual arrests regarding trafficking meth, Findlaw clarifies that New York has some of the harshest drug laws in the country. In addition to classifying drugs such as heroin and cocaine, the state also classifies the compounds to manufacture them. The penalties that follow an arrest for manufacturing and distributing can be very complex, as there are five different categories for penalties. Regardless of the drug, New York also considers all convictions for the sale of a controlled substance as felonies. Fifth-degree felonies, which are the mildest, require at minimum one to 2.5 years in prison, and first-degree offenses involve eight years in prison at minimum for non-major drug traffickers. Those distributing at high volumes and to mass consumers may face at least 15 years in prison.