Toronto Drug Offences Lawyers
The Criminal Code of Canada carries penalties for the possession, trafficking and production of illicit substances. The Canadian government has recently taken a strong stance against drug crimes with the imposition of mandatory minimum sentences for selling drugs and growing marijuana. As a result, drug offences may carry severe penalties in the event of conviction.
Penalties for Drug Offences
There is a minimum two year prison term if the accused is found guilty of trafficking in drugs such as marijuana or cocaine in or around a school, or in or by a public place where persons under the age of 18 are frequently found, or the accused uses the services of someone under 18 to sell the drugs, or the accused traffics drugs in a prison.
In addition, cases involving “offence-related property” have presented new issues to those accused of committing serious drug crimes. In these cases, the prosecution seeks to seize property where it is used in relation to marijuana grow-ops, trafficking, or possessing for the purpose of trafficking in any illegal substance. Offence-related property can include the loss of one’s family home or automobile if the property (house, automobile, etc.) was used in the commission of one of the serious aforementioned drug offences.
Police Tactics
In our experience as drug attorneys, police use a number of tactics to trap suspected drug dealers: undercover officers, police agents, confidential informants, wiretaps, surveillance, and entrapment. Undercover officers are commonly used as potential purchasers. Typically, the officer will buy small amounts of drugs, and make his way up to larger amounts, hoping to catch other conspirators up the supply chain. Police agents are usually career criminals familiar with the drug subculture, employed by police, who actively seeks out drugs to buy. The police agent is promised money and/or leniency in exchange for “entrapping” suspected drug dealers.
The Criminal Law Team finds that the police agent, if not carefully controlled by his or her police handler, is easy pickings when it comes to attacking his or her credibility as a witness. Police agents tend to be persons who have trouble telling the truth, and their criminal records supports this argument. The crown is required to provide full disclosure to the defence of any and all criminal activity that the police agent has been involved in. Confidential informants are also usually career criminals who are offered money and/or leniency to provide the police with information about drug dealing, grow ops, etc. The crown is not required to disclose any information about the informant that would tend to identify him or her. However, if the police rely on information from a confidential informant to obtain a wiretap or search warrant, or tracking device, the reliability of the informant can be tested by other means. Sometimes the crown has to fold its case in circumstances where they are unwilling to disclose information that is relevant to the credibility of the informant.
Finally, wiretap and surveillance techniques are usually employed where the police are investigating drug conspiracies involving a number of suspects and large quantities of drugs. The Criminal Law Team has had success in obtaining excellent results for clients charged with being involved in drug conspiracies in circumstances where we have been able to challenge the grounds for obtaining the wiretap. In one case, we were successful in obtaining a withdrawal of all charges for a client charged with being involved in a large operation to bring cocaine and ecstasy into Canada by arguing that the wiretap authorization contained misleading information.
Possession for the purpose of trafficking
The offence of possession for the purpose of trafficking carries the same penalty as the offence of trafficking. To find a conviction for possession for the purpose of trafficking, the prosecution must establish that the quantity of drugs seized, and the surrounding circumstances (manner of packaging, existence or not of scales, debt list, etc), proves that the drugs were possessed with the intent to sell. The Criminal Law Team has been successful in a number of cases in having this serious charge withdrawn, or reduced to a charge of simple possession (with a penalty of a fine, probation, or discharge), where, for example, we were able to establish that the client had a serious drug addiction that would explain the need to possess a large quantity of drugs.
How We Can Help
The Criminal Law Team has access to a number of professionals who can help clients with drug, prescription abuse or alcohol problems to obtain the help they need, usually allowing them to stay out of jail, and become productive members of society.
If you have been charged with a drug offence, it is important to retain The Criminal Law Team as soon as possible to avoid the severe penalties attached to these crimes. The Criminal Law Team has significant experience and success defending clients who have been charged with serious drug offences. We have also had considerable success in challenging government attempts to seize offence-related property in grow-op cases. With the help of an experienced drug crimes lawyer, our clients have received outcomes ranging from reduced sentences to acquittals.
Toronto’s Criminal Law Team have a combined experience of over 60+ years specifically in Criminal Law, and have defended hundreds of clients charged with drug offences. See what our other clients are saying about us. We can help you too!
Given recent changes to immigration laws in this country, if you are not a Canadian citizen, there is a greater potential that a criminal record will affect your right to remain in Canada. We have an over 85% success rate either getting charges dropped, reduced or withdrawn completely. Call us today if you have been charged with a drug offence.
Client Testimonials
I appreciate the quick response. Stephen Hebscher gave me extremely good advice about my situation. I was being extorted by an employee of mine,and he helped me resolve the matter within days. Now I don¹t have this black cloud hanging over my head. I will highly suggest Stephen and The Criminal Law Team to anyone that needs the help of an experienced criminal lawyer! Thanks again!
M.A.
I came to Stephen Hebscher with a somewhat irregular case. Both my spouse and I had been mutually charged with domestic assault, a legal situation that neither of us had wished upon each other. While my spouse's lawyer had been content to seek mutually binding peace bonds, Stephen was able to get in front of the case and negotiate a withdrawal of both of our charges- the best possible outcome on BOTH sides of the table – once we successfully completing the PARs program. I remain entirely pleased with Stephen's competency, professionalism and accessibility, and would not hesitate to recommend him as a criminal defence lawyer. L.A.
Mr. Hebscher: I would like to thank you for your excellent representation of me in relation to the domestic assault charges that you worked so hard to have withdrawn. You have made a critical difference in my future and I am very happy with the outcome.
I also appreciate your hard work, and the extra time and effort you have put in to deal with all the other issues that came along. I thank you for being a phone call away (or email) even when you did not have to be.
I will gladly recommend your services to any of my friends or family should they ever need it. I am very grateful for what you have done.
M.B. Toronto
Dear Bruce Karten
I wanted to send a note to express my family’s gratitude for everything you have done for my brother. With his mental illness, and the serious charges that were laid against him that included arson and endangering life under the Criminal Code of Canada, we were terrified of what was going to happen to him. These charges could well have resulted in him being sentenced to jail for a period of 10 years or more.
I did not know what to expect when I made that first call to you, Bruce, but through the months it took to resolve this, your professionalism, knowledge and patience in explaining what you were planning to do in a way that we were able to understand, made us feel less anxious and more hopeful.
Thanks to you, his charges were substantially reduced and he received a sentence that allowed him to continue to receive the medical help he needs to recover and look to putting his life back together. Any period of jail would have been devastating to his chances of recovering from this devastating situation. We would recommend you, Bruce Karten, without hesitation, to anyone in need of an excellent criminal defense lawyer.
Thank you,
Shirley, T., Whitby, Ontario
Dear Mr. Hebscher: I wish to commend and thank you for your recent handling of my friend’s court case. Your compassionate and thorough scrutiny of the circumstances lead to a withdrawal verdict. Thank you so much. I was most impressed and should I ever be in a similar serious situation you will be the first person I call. Again, you represent all the good side of lawyers.
C.M.
Toronto, ON
Dear Mr. Hebscher: I would like to take this opportunity to thank you ever so much for your great professionalism and humane service to me at a time of profound confusion and in dire need of legal counsel. From my first introduction via telephone, your voice made me feel comfortable. Dealing with you from the beginning to end kept me reassured I was in good hands. The final outcome of my court case, which was “withdrawn” confirmed that I truly had a good lawyer on my side and it was your advocacy that convinced the crown. I would highly recommend you to anyone in need of an excellent criminal lawyer. Once again, I thank you and God bless.
M.J.
Toronto
Excellent news!
I am impressed especially after our meeting on Monday – I was resigned that something bad would befall me, so I am very blessed to have this outcome. I thank you for the hard work that you have put into this case, and the dedication on getting me this fantastic outcome!
I am so glad that we retained you as my lawyer! You have done an outstanding job and allowed me to now rebuild my life. Thank you, Bruce Karten.
Dave B. (Ajax, Ontario)
We were referred to Stephen Hebscher when our child was in need of legal representation. He was charged with sexual assault. As parents, we were quite frightened for our child but Mr. Hebscher was the calm voice of reason. We are very grateful to Mr. Hebscher for the excellent results he got for our child, as the charges were dropped.
J.N. (Toronto, Ontario)
Mr. Hebscher is a very professional lawyer who takes pride in his work and because of this the end result was the judge ruling me not guilty and I got my innocence and life back. My family and I would like to thank you again Stephen Hebscher for doing a wonderful job and also being a very supportive man.
Chris T. (Scarborough, Ontario)
I am happy to report that Bruce’s superior negotiation strategy and ability to present facts effectively helped convince the Crown to reduce his position. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Bruce for getting my charge withdrawn and keep my criminal record clean.
J.S (Toronto, Ontario)
I looked and found Barrister Stephen Hebscher I introduced myself and my case and after listening to all details he was able to ensure me that my case would go well. All charges against me have be thrown out and my life is back to normal.
Blair H. (North York)
Bruce ...The care and concern you showed us during our dealings certainly helped to reduce the stress we were under. I would recommend you without a second thought. Your winning record is a bonus as well. My husband and myself can't thank you enough for all you've done for our family.
Debi T. (Mississauga, Ontario)
Dear Mr. Hebscher...There are not enough words to express my appreciation for your...giving me your undivided attention at all times, work in my case with your heart and soul, that makes you "ONE OF A KIND" lawyer.
Ahmed A. (Brampton, Ontario)
Mr. Bruce Karten was able to help to extricate me from a very serious criminal case containing severe charges, including weapons –threat to use weapons, death threat, harassment,etc. He succeeded in winning my case. I was discharged; was able to keep my career, and no criminal record. This was a tremendous accomplishment, and I am very appreciative of that.
Nickolai V. (Toronto, Ontario)
Again, from the depth of our hearts we sincerely thank you very much for being my Counsel on this case. We now can say you are the BEST and we will surely recommend you to our friends and anybody here we know who needs the best Lawyer in Ontario. You have done an extremely good job and we are very happy with the outcome this morning.
Roman A. (Markham, Ontario)
Mr. Hebscher was the only lawyer who gave me hope and made me feel like I had a real fighting chance. I am extremely satisfied with the quick results that he delivered, and I am happy to say that he was able to convince the court to drop the charges against me and clear my name.
Tina M. (Toronto, Ontario)
