We recently stumbled upon this Quora thread where an anonymous user asks, “My boyfriend sells drugs without me knowing and I just found out. Am I wrong for being completely mad at him?”
This user received many helpful answers, mostly about how she is perfectly in the right for being mad at her boyfriend.
We wish her the best in her future relationships, which hopefully contain a lot more honesty.
As lawyers though, what was more interesting about this thread than the relationship advice were the legal implications.
Because yes, you can get in trouble if your boyfriend sells illegal drugs.
The same can be said for your spouse, roommate, or anyone you live with.
What Happens if Drugs are Found in Your House
If your spouse, significant other, or roommate is caught trafficking an illicit substance, it is highly likely that you will be dragged into their mess, even if you had nothing to do with it.
If your roommate sells illegal drugs, your culpability is measured by how much you knew about what was going on and whether or not you were ever involved.
For instance, if your roommate sells drugs, keeps the contraband locked away in his or her room, and never discusses anything about selling drugs with you, it isn’t likely that you will face charges.
You will, however, need to deal with the police searching your home and possessions. Law enforcement also will question you about your roommate’s activities to determine whether or not you knew about his or her activities.
This is where things can get tricky – because even if you had no involvement in your roommate’s activities, you have to prove that to the authorities, who may or may not suspect that you were involved.
Before answering any questions, it is crucial that you get a lawyer.
Now let’s say the drugs your roommate sold were kept in a common area readily within your view, such as a living room or kitchen. It would be very difficult for you to argue that you had no idea about what your roommate was doing since the drugs in question were in an easily visible common area. You would likely face a drug possession charge in this situation.
If you assisted your roommate in his or her endeavors in any way, you’ll likely face steeper charges, such as criminal conspiracy to sell drugs, intent to traffic, or constructive possession. In this case, you will more likely than not face similar charges to those your roommate receives.
Even if you simply take a drive with your roommate one time to make a sale, you can face drug trafficking charges.
How a Drug Charge Attorney can Help You
If you recently discovered that someone you live with is selling drugs, your best move forward is to remove yourself as much as possible from the situation and contact a criminal defence lawyer.
And if you were arrested for drug trafficking, it is even more important to retain the services of an experienced drug charge lawyer, like those here at Dhanu Dhaliwal Law Group.
We’ll help you fight your charges and work toward the best possible outcome for your case.
Contact us today by calling one of our offices in Abbotsford or Surrey, or fill out our confidential contact form. We’ll get you an initial case evaluation and get you on the right path toward a clean record.
