A young man from New Jersey is facing some pretty serious penalties after
he returned to the U.S. from a visit to his home country, the Dominican
Republic. Shortly after he got off the plane, he was arrested and charged
with the drug crime of trafficking.

Any type of drug-related charge can lead to a number of consequences, including
a criminal conviction. Being convicted of a crime can affect your future,
both personally and professionally. Because of the potential impact, individuals
charged with drug-related crimes should determine how to defend against
such charges. This young man may need to do just that.

According to the report, U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents suspected
the young man of trafficking cocaine. They alerted state law enforcement
in order to apprehend the man when he got off the plane.

After the man’s arrest, Customs agents searched through his belongings
and found more than 2 kilograms of cocaine hidden in shoe inserts. The
estimated worth of the drugs comes to approximately $200,000.

The young man has already pled not guilty to the trafficking charge. But
this whole ordeal could make life more complicated for him. Though he
has not had a run-in with the law in the past, he could still face up
to 20 years in prison if he’s convicted of trafficking cocaine. Not
only that, but he has already been ordered to give up his passport.

Investigators and prosecutors can be very aggressive when pursuing a conviction
for drug charges. This man, like anyone else who has been charged with
a drug crime, should understand the weight of such charges and what steps
can be taken to defend against them.

Source: Boston Herald: “Alleged trafficker gets off on wrong foot,”
Marie Szaniszlo, Sept. 21, 2011