Federal Drug Trafficking Enforcement Statistics from Fiscal Year 2019
In the fiscal year 2019, there were 76,538 federal criminal cases reported to the United States Sentencing Commission. 19,765 of those cases involved federal drug trafficking, representing just over 25% of all federal criminal cases. There are seven drug types that account for 96.5% of all federal drug trafficking cases, they are:
- Methamphetamine: 42.7%
- Powder Cocaine: 18.1%
- Heroin: 12.7%
- Marijuana: 8.5%
- Crack Cocaine: 7.9%
- Fentanyl: 4.5%
- Oxycodone: 2.1%
Over 80% of drug trafficking offenders in 2019 were men. Their average age was 36 years old, and nearly 80% of them were United States citizens. Almost 25% of their sentences were increased due to possessing a weapon. Nearly 45% of them had little to no prior criminal history before being convicted of federal drug trafficking. The top five districts for federal drug trafficking offenders in 2019 are:
- Western District of Texas: 1,249 offenders
- Southern District of California: 1,183 offenders
- Southern District of Texas: 946 offenders
- District of Arizona: 728 offenders
- Northern District of Texas: 683 offenders
The average sentences these offenders received was 77 months in 2019. 96.4% of these offenders were sentenced to prison for their federal drug trafficking convictions. Just over 65% of those convicted were convicted of an offense carrying a mandatory minimum penalty. Almost 58% of those convicted of an offense carrying a mandatory minimum were relieved of that penalty due to specific factors.
TRENDS AND CHARACTERISTICS
The percentages reflecting the seven main drug types involved in federal drug trafficking also correlate to changes in how much of each drug is trafficked. Since 2015, methamphetamine trafficking has increased nearly 31%. This helps explain its position as the number one most trafficked drug in the United States today. Marijuana trafficking, on the other hand, has decreased almost 52% since 2015. This is largely due to the legalization efforts across many states which has led to a weakened enforcement effort on the part of federal investigators. Fentanyl trafficking has shockingly increased almost 4,000% since 2015. Oxycodone also saw a significant increase in trafficking at over 50% within the same time period. It is estimated that Americans spend over $150 billion annually on illicit drugs. Surprisingly, this number is very similar to the amount Americans spend annually on alcohol. Even with all of the prevention and enforcement efforts, the market for illicit drugs is still huge in the United States. Drugs are not trafficked to the United States by accident, they are trafficked here because the market is huge, even with all of the obvious risks.
HOW DOES THIS AFFECT ME?
If you are facing a federal drug trafficking charge or are being investigated for drug trafficking, then these statistics should show you how seriously the federal government treats these cases. Even having a minor role in a drug trafficking conspiracy can lead to heavy mandatory minimum sentences handed down by federal judges. Certain factors like having a weapon present or a previous criminal history can also lead to mandatory minimum sentences when dealing with a drug trafficking case. If you have any questions about federal drug trafficking laws, then it is important to seek the advice of an experienced federal drug trafficking attorney as soon as possible. It is your responsibility to understand the law as it applies to you. Ignorance of the law is not a defense, and you will not be given a break just because you weren’t aware that you were breaking the law.
