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Drug Offence Solicitors

Our Drug Offence Solicitors provide specialist defence for individuals facing allegations ranging from drug possession to organised supply and production. We advise you before the police interview, establish the case being built against you and prepare your defence from the outset.

A drug investigation can develop quickly, with an arrest or search leading to questions about your knowledge, intentions and involvement. You need clear advice about what the police must prove and how to respond. We explain your position and deal with the police on your behalf, helping you make informed decisions at each stage.

The presence of drugs does not, by itself, establish every element of the offence alleged. We examine the circumstances in which they were found and the evidence said to connect you with them. Where supply or conspiracy is alleged, we scrutinise communications and financial records to assess what they establish about your individual role.

With more than 25 years of criminal defence experience, Draycott Browne is recognised by Chambers UK for Crime in the North West. Managing Director Shaun Draycott leads our serious crime work, supported by a team that includes solicitors accredited under the Law Society’s Criminal Litigation Accreditation scheme.

Contact our Drug Offence Solicitors for confidential advice about an investigation, arrest or charge. We represent clients across England and Wales and are available 24 hours a day for urgent police station representation.

How We Will Help You

Our first priority is to establish what the police allege and advise you before the interview. We take your instructions in private and explain how to respond to questions about the drugs, where they were found and your alleged involvement.

Where drugs are recovered from a shared home, vehicle or premises, we examine the evidence connecting them to you. Your knowledge and who had access can be central to the defence. We also assess whether the search was lawful and whether evidence can be challenged.

If supply is alleged, we scrutinise the evidence relied upon to distinguish dealing from personal use. We consider the quantity alongside messages, packaging and cash, testing the police interpretation against your account. Where several people are accused, we focus on what the evidence establishes about your individual role.

We investigate any relevant pressure, threats or exploitation and pursue evidence that could support your defence. Where appropriate, we make representations before charge. If the case proceeds to court, we prepare your defence with specialist counsel or, where a guilty plea is appropriate, present mitigation reflecting your actual involvement.

Throughout, we keep you informed and advise on practical concerns, including bail conditions and seized property.

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Our legal team is available 7 days a week

Criminal Defence Expertise for Drug Offences

Specialist expertise in defending all types of drug offences.

Conspiracy To Supply Drugs
Conspiracy To Supply Class A Drugs
Conspiracy To Supply Class B Drugs
Conspiracy To Supply Steroids
Cultivation of Cannabis
Possession With Intent to Supply

Our Experienced Drug Offences Team

Shaun Draycott

Shaun Draycott

Managing Director & Serious Crime Solicitor
Rob Mann

Rob Mann

Director & Serious Crime Solicitor
Venessa Schweitzer

Venessa Schweitzer

Consultant Litigator
Caitlin Cardwell

Caitlin Cardwell

Crown Court Litigator
Meet the Team

Drug Offences We Defend and Their Penalties

Drug offences are primarily prosecuted under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. The sentence will depend on the offence, the class and quantity of the drug, the defendant's role and any aggravating or mitigating factors. Sentencing is carried out under the Sentencing Code and the relevant Sentencing Council guidelines.

At Draycott Browne, our Drug Offence Solicitors defend clients facing allegations ranging from possession through to organised supply, production and international trafficking.

Possession of Controlled Drugs, involves knowingly possessing or controlling a prohibited drug. The maximum sentence is 7 years' imprisonment for Class A drugs, 5 years for Class B drugs and 2 years for Class C drugs. An unlimited fine may also be imposed.

Possession with Intent to Supply, applies where the prosecution alleges that drugs were intended to be supplied to another person. The maximum sentence is life imprisonment for Class A drugs and 14 years' imprisonment for Class B or Class C drugs.

Supply of Controlled Drugs, includes selling, giving or otherwise transferring controlled drugs. The maximum penalties are the same as for possession with intent to supply.

Conspiracy to Supply Drugs, involves an agreement between two or more people to supply controlled drugs. A completed supply does not need to have taken place. The maximum sentence can be life imprisonment for Class A drugs and 14 years for Class B or Class C drugs.

Production of Controlled Drugs, covers manufacturing, preparing or otherwise producing a controlled substance. Production of Class A drugs can carry a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, while Class B and Class C offences can carry up to 14 years' imprisonment.

Cultivation of Cannabis, involves producing or cultivating cannabis plants. The maximum sentence is 14 years' imprisonment and an unlimited fine, although the actual sentence will depend on factors such as the scale of the operation and the defendant's role.

Importation and Exportation of Controlled Drugs, can involve offences under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and customs legislation, including the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979. Class A offences can carry a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, while Class B and Class C offences can carry up to 14 years.

Drug Offences on Premises, can arise where an occupier or person involved in managing premises knowingly permits certain drug-related activities. Offences under section 8 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 can carry substantial custodial sentences.

The Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 may also apply to substances which produce a psychoactive effect but are not controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act. It covers conduct including production, supply, importation and exportation.

If you are under investigation or have been accused of a drug offence it is essential to obtain specialist legal advice as early as possible. Our experienced serious crime solicitors in Manchester provide practical guidance from the outset and build a defence designed to protect your position and secure the best possible outcome.

Classes of Controlled Drugs

Controlled drugs are divided into Class A, B and C. Classification affects the maximum penalties available, although the actual sentence will also depend on the quantity involved and the offender's role.

 

  • Class A: cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin, ecstasy/MDMA, LSD, methamphetamine and controlled nitazene synthetic opioids
  • Class B: cannabis, codeine, ketamine, mephedrone and amphetamines
  • Class C: anabolic steroids, diazepam and other specified benzodiazepines, khat and nitrous oxide

Specialist Drug Offence Solicitors

  • 24/7 Availability
  • Proven Success in High Profile Cases
  • Non-Judgemental Representation Tailored to Your Situation

Protect your future with trusted, expert legal defence—contact Draycott Browne’s Drug Defence Lawyers today.

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24 Hour Availability

A drug investigation may begin with an unexpected arrest, property search or request for interview. Our solicitors are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to provide urgent advice and police station representation.

If the police ask to interview you, request a solicitor before deciding how to respond. This also applies to a voluntary interview, where you have not been arrested. We will advise on the information disclosed by investigators and the implications of answering questions, providing a prepared statement or remaining silent.

Funding Your Defence

Depending on your circumstances and the stage of your case, you may be eligible for financial support through the Legal Aid scheme. We can assess your eligibility and explain the funding options available when you first speak to us. Legal advice at the police station is free, regardless of your income.

Private funding can provide greater flexibility in the preparation of your defence. This can be particularly important in serious drug cases involving extensive phone downloads, encrypted communications or several defendants whose alleged roles require separate examination.

We can agree to additional work to analyse digital evidence, scrutinise forensic findings and investigate the prosecution’s account of your involvement. We can also pursue further lines of enquiry and instruct appropriate experts where their input could assist your case.

For serious drug allegations, we recommend considering private funding where it is financially possible, particularly if substantial additional investigation may be needed. We will explain the proposed work and costs so you can make an informed decision about funding your defence.

Speak to an expert

Our legal team is available 7 days a week

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Contact our Drug Offence Solicitors

Drug offence allegations can have serious consequences for your freedom, career and future. An investigation into drug possession, supply or trafficking can develop quickly, with police searches, arrests and interviews taking place without warning. If you are under investigation, our Drug Offence Solicitors can provide immediate legal advice and take decisive steps to protect your position.

Building a strong defence requires careful preparation and a clear understanding of the prosecution's case. Our criminal solicitors examine the evidence against you, identify weaknesses in the allegations and challenge the prosecution wherever there are grounds to do so. We are committed to providing robust representation that protects your rights and gives your case the attention it deserves.

From our base in Manchester, we represent clients throughout England and Wales, including Liverpool, Birmingham and London. Our legal team is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to provide urgent assistance following an arrest or police interview request.

Early legal representation can make a significant difference to how your case progresses. If you are suspected of involvement in a drug offence or have already been charged, contact our Drug Offence Solicitors today for confidential advice and a strategic legal defence. Call our team or complete the contact form to speak with an experienced criminal defence solicitor.

Frequently Asked Questions for Drug Offences 

Yes. You can possess drugs without owning them. The relevant questions include whether you had custody or control and what you knew about the item or substance. Drugs found near you or in shared premises require careful assessment of the evidence connecting them to you.

Yes. Supply can include giving controlled drugs to another person without payment. An intention to share drugs can therefore support an allegation of possession with intent to supply, even where you were not selling them commercially.

No. Quantity can be important evidence, but the prosecution must prove an intention to supply. The court considers the surrounding circumstances, which may include packaging, communications and evidence about personal use.

You should obtain legal advice before the interview. A voluntary interview is still an interview under caution, and your answers can be used as evidence. Free legal advice is available at the police station even if you have not been arrested.

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We are ready to assist.