UK - Drugs mule sentences cut in new sentencing guidelines

[mattnotrik]

People who smuggle drugs will face more lenient sentences if they have been exploitated, under new guidelines.

The change in approach on "drug mules" is in the first comprehensive rules on drugs offences from the Sentencing Council for England and Wales.

The council said judges should distinguish between those who have been exploited by gangs and criminals heavily involved in the drugs trade.

So apparntley that "giving pills to your mates is classed as dealing, do'y know son", will no longer stand.

Guidelines on sentencing for supply vary due to circumstances

Example one: Student club-goer guilty of supply of 20 ecstasy tablets to himself and a friend. He buys off a regular dealer recreation and there is no financial gain. Sentencing starting point is 18 months - but can be as low as a community order or as high as three years.

Example two: Police stop man in a car who is carrying cocaine worth up to £6,500. They find more drugs trade evidence at home and incriminating messages on a mobile phone. Suspect is involved in commercial-scale selling for profit. Sentencing starting point is eight and a half years.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-16692092

 

[LogicSoDeveloped]

This is a step in the right direction but it doesn't solve the issue. If carrying drugs is a risk, there will always be people trying to profit from taking that risk. That's how dealers profit. That guy getting 8 and 1/2 years will just be replaced by some other guy willing to do what that guide did-supply a demand.

The media likes to make drug dealing to be much complicated than simple economics. Of course there are risks and dangers but those only exist because the government creates them. Gangs would have much less money without the drug game and LEO's wouldn't have to arrest someone just trying to get high.