Drug Trafficking

"Cover of the Quick Facts handout"

Of the 61,678 cases reported to the Commission in fiscal year 2024, 18,150 involved drugs.1 Of those, 18,029 cases involved drug trafficking.2 Seven drug types account for 98.3% of drug trafficking offenses. Quick Facts provide an overview of these offenses, though this information may vary depending on the type of drug involved in the offense.3, 4

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Individual and Offense Characteristics

 

  • 84.4% of individuals sentenced for drug trafficking were men.
     
  • 44.4% were Hispanic, 28.5% were Black, 23.8% were White, and 3.3% were Other races. 
     
  • Their average age was 38 years. 
     
  • 80.4% were United States citizens.
     
  • 45.2% had little or no prior criminal history (Criminal History Category I); 5.9% were career offenders.
     
  • Sentences were increased for:
    • possessing a weapon (30.2%);
    • a leadership or supervisory role in the offense (6.9%).
       
  • Sentences were decreased for:
    • minor or minimal participation in the offense (17.9%);
    • meeting the safety valve criteria in the sentencing guidelines (35.0%).
       
  • The top five districts for drug trafficking offenses were:
    • Southern District of California (1,070);
    • Southern District of Texas (839);
    • Western District of Texas (723);
    • District of Puerto Rico (626);
    • Northern District of Texas (556).

 

Punishment

 

 

  • The average sentence for individuals trafficking drugs was 82 months but varied by drug type.
     
  • 96.5% were sentenced to prison.
     
  • 54.6% were convicted of an offense carrying a mandatory minimum penalty; 49.6% of those individuals were relieved of that penalty.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 Drug offenses include cases where individuals were sentenced under USSG Chapter Two, Part D (Drugs).

2 Individuals sentenced for drug trafficking were sentenced under USSG §§2D1.1 (Drug Trafficking), 2D1.2 (Protected Locations), 2D1.5 (Continuing Criminal Enterprise), 2D1.6 (Use of a Communication Facility), 2D1.8 (Rent/Manage Drug Establishment), 2D1.10 (Endangering Human Life), or 2D1.14 (Narco-Terrorism).

3 Cases with incomplete sentencing information were excluded from the analysis.

4 The 'Fentanyl' category includes both Fentanyl (N-phenyl-N-[1-(2-phenylethyl)-4-piperidinyl] Propanamide) and Fentanyl Analogue.

SOURCE: United States Sentencing Commission, FY 2020 through FY 2024 Datafiles, USSCFY20-USSCFY24.

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