Drug trafficking refers to the criminal act of transporting, manufacturing, and selling illegal narcotics. Drug trafficking operations typically involve smuggling large quantities of illegal narcotics within a state or county or on an interstate or international level. Illegal narcotics include marijuana, cocaine, heroin, LSD, methamphetamines, and Ecstasy.

The legal penalties for drug trafficking vary and will often be contingent on a number of factors which can include; the kind of drug being trafficked, the volume of the drug involved, the previous criminal record of the offender, and whether the offender has previous trafficking indictments.  These circumstances will establish whether the offender is charged with a misdemeanor or felony drug offense. The offender with a previous criminal record or a previous drug distribution charge will likely to get an increased sentence when convicted. Furthermore, the offender may be subject to more severe legal penalties if the offender employed a minor to sell, manufacture, or transport drugs. Drug trafficking is considered a felony in most cases based on state and federal law.  

If convicted of drug trafficking, a person will face punishment of imprisonment, jail time, huge fines, loss of driver’s license, confiscation of personal assets, house arrest, probation, and court ordered treatment procedures. Moreover, individuals convicted of drug trafficking in the state of California will have to register themselves as a drug offender. A person may find it difficult to get employment or housing opportunities once he/she was registered drug offender. Also, the person may lose their right to get hold of student or bank loans from financial institutions. 

Drug trafficking may be charged as a federal drug crime depending on the case. A federal drug crime implies that the DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration), FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) or ICE (Immigrations and Customs Enforcement) may be involved in the investigation and prosecution of the case. This will place anyone charged with federal drug crime at a higher risk of being convicted as these agencies often have more supplies and resources to utilize to trafficking investigations.