Marijuana Found on Santa Barbara Beach

County officials found bundles of marijuana valued at $4 million stranded on a beach in Santa Barbara, California on March 17, 2013. The drugs were discovered next to a 30-foot panga-style boat on Arroyo Quemada Beach. Officials estimated the quantity to be about 2,000 pounds; the marijuana was bundled in plastic bags and surrounded by trash and debris, all of which has been seized to be tested as evidence. The scene was consistent with a smuggling operation, according to the official press release from Santa Barbara County Sheriff's office. Earlier in March, approximately $1 million worth of marijuana was found on another beach in the Santa Barbara area, near Vandenberg Air Force Base.

The California Health and Safety Code 11359 makes the possession of marijuana with the intent to sell a felony. California Health and Safety Code 11360 makes it a felony to sell, give away, or transport marijuana, punishable by two to four years in prison. Marijuana trafficking is also a federal offense with varying penalties, depending on the quantity involved. Trafficking in 1,000 kilograms or more carries federal penalties of not less than 10 years in a federal prison. If serious bodily harm or death has been committed in conjunction with trafficking of this amount, the prison sentence is not less than 20 years. Fines can be up to $10 million for an individual and up to $50 million if other than a single individual.

Criminal Defense Attorney in Ventura, California

Drug crimes, especially those involving the possession, sale, and distribution of marijuana, are common criminal cases taken up in California courts. Because of its close proximity to the Mexican border and the issue of drug trafficking through that border, law enforcement agencies in Ventura and the rest of southern California are constantly on the alert for drug crimes.

If you have been arrested and charged with a drug crime involving marijuana or any other type of controlled substance, including the unauthorized possession of prescription drugs, it is vital that you seek the legal services of an attorney who is experienced in criminal defense in the courts in your area. The Law Offices of Douglas H. Ridley serves clients in and around Ventura; Mr. Ridley is a former Deputy District Attorney who has handled thousands of criminal cases. Get the competent and dedicated legal representation you need by contacting his firm immediately following an arrest. Mr. Ridley offers a free, initial case consultation.