Conspiracy to Supply Drugs Defence

The alleged agreement

Conspiracy under section 1 of the Criminal Law Act 1977 concerns an agreement to pursue a course of conduct involving an offence, with the required intention and knowledge. A completed handover is not the only possible basis of the allegation. The prosecution must establish the charged conspiracy against the individual defendant.

Ask what agreement is alleged, its dates, the drug concerned and the conduct said to connect you to it. A useful account separates acquaintance, contact and lawful dealings from the particular criminal agreement alleged.

A clear account in a multi-defendant case

Start a chronology of your own relevant events with your solicitor. Identify disputed meetings, journeys, payments and communications. Mark the source of each point: personal recollection, a document or something reported by another person. This keeps the preparation anchored to reliable information.

A large bundle should be organised around the issues. Tell Ghafar if the prosecution relies on an attributed handset, nickname or encrypted account. The digital-evidence guide explains how to raise questions about attribution and context without assuming that a selected message tells the whole story.

Separate advice and conflicts

Different defendants may have different interests even where they are relatives, friends or colleagues. Explain existing representation and connections at the first enquiry so conflicts can be assessed. Do not assume a shared account is appropriate.

If you are considering a plea, identify any disagreement about the period, substance, scale or conduct attributed to you. Advice about those matters should precede a decision, with the actual indictment and evidence available.

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