Maine criminal charge
Aggravated trafficking of scheduled drugs in Maine
Current through 2026 Maine legislative session
Aggravated trafficking of scheduled drugs is a criminal offense under Maine law, defined by 17-A M.R.S. § 1105-A. Its classification is not fixed: Maine assigns a different penalty class depending on the circumstances of the offense. The class that applies — and the sentencing range that follows from it — depends on which statutory variant fits the facts.
Defined by 17-A M.R.S. § 1105-A.
What is the penalty for aggravated trafficking of scheduled drugs in Maine?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | up to 30 years (Trafficking in 112+ grams of cocaine — The person traffics in cocaine in a quantity of 112 grams or more.; statutory default maximum (17-A M.R.S. §1604(1)(A)); individual statutes may specify a different maximum, and mandatory minimums apply to certain crimes (e.g. use of a firearm against an individual, §1604(3))) | discretionary | 17-A M.R.S. § 1604 |
| Fine | up to $50,000 (Trafficking in 112+ grams of cocaine — The person traffics in cocaine in a quantity of 112 grams or more.; maximum for an individual (17-A M.R.S. §1704(1)); organizations up to $100,000 (§1705); statute-specific and alternative fines may exceed (§1706)) | discretionary | 17-A M.R.S. § 1604 |
| Jail / prison | up to 30 years (Trafficking in methamphetamine or amphetamine (large quantity) — The person traffics in 300 or more units or 100 grams or more of methamphetamine or amphetamine.; statutory default maximum (17-A M.R.S. §1604(1)(A)); individual statutes may specify a different maximum, and mandatory minimums apply to certain crimes (e.g. use of a firearm against an individual, §1604(3))) | discretionary | 17-A M.R.S. § 1604 |
| Fine | up to $50,000 (Trafficking in methamphetamine or amphetamine (large quantity) — The person traffics in 300 or more units or 100 grams or more of methamphetamine or amphetamine.; maximum for an individual (17-A M.R.S. §1704(1)); organizations up to $100,000 (§1705); statute-specific and alternative fines may exceed (§1706)) | discretionary | 17-A M.R.S. § 1604 |
| Jail / prison | up to 30 years (Trafficking in heroin (large quantity) — The person traffics in 6 or more grams or 270 or more individual containers of heroin.; statutory default maximum (17-A M.R.S. §1604(1)(A)); individual statutes may specify a different maximum, and mandatory minimums apply to certain crimes (e.g. use of a firearm against an individual, §1604(3))) | discretionary | 17-A M.R.S. § 1604 |
| Fine | up to $50,000 (Trafficking in heroin (large quantity) — The person traffics in 6 or more grams or 270 or more individual containers of heroin.; maximum for an individual (17-A M.R.S. §1704(1)); organizations up to $100,000 (§1705); statute-specific and alternative fines may exceed (§1706)) | discretionary | 17-A M.R.S. § 1604 |
| Jail / prison | up to 30 years (Trafficking in narcotic pills/oxycodone/hydromorphone (large quantity) — The person traffics in 300 or more units of a narcotic drug other than heroin, or large aggregate amounts of oxycodone or hydromorphone.; statutory default maximum (17-A M.R.S. §1604(1)(A)); individual statutes may specify a different maximum, and mandatory minimums apply to certain crimes (e.g. use of a firearm against an individual, §1604(3))) | discretionary | 17-A M.R.S. § 1604 |
| Fine | up to $50,000 (Trafficking in narcotic pills/oxycodone/hydromorphone (large quantity) — The person traffics in 300 or more units of a narcotic drug other than heroin, or large aggregate amounts of oxycodone or hydromorphone.; maximum for an individual (17-A M.R.S. §1704(1)); organizations up to $100,000 (§1705); statute-specific and alternative fines may exceed (§1706)) | discretionary | 17-A M.R.S. § 1604 |
| Jail / prison | up to 30 years (Trafficking in MDMA or similar drug (large quantity) — The person traffics in 300 or more units containing MDMA or another drug listed under section 1102(1)(O).; statutory default maximum (17-A M.R.S. §1604(1)(A)); individual statutes may specify a different maximum, and mandatory minimums apply to certain crimes (e.g. use of a firearm against an individual, §1604(3))) | discretionary | 17-A M.R.S. § 1604 |
| Fine | up to $50,000 (Trafficking in MDMA or similar drug (large quantity) — The person traffics in 300 or more units containing MDMA or another drug listed under section 1102(1)(O).; maximum for an individual (17-A M.R.S. §1704(1)); organizations up to $100,000 (§1705); statute-specific and alternative fines may exceed (§1706)) | discretionary | 17-A M.R.S. § 1604 |
| Jail / prison | up to 30 years (Trafficking causing death (schedule W drug) — Death of another person is caused in part by the trafficked schedule W drug.; statutory default maximum (17-A M.R.S. §1604(1)(A)); individual statutes may specify a different maximum, and mandatory minimums apply to certain crimes (e.g. use of a firearm against an individual, §1604(3))) | discretionary | 17-A M.R.S. § 1604 |
| Fine | up to $50,000 (Trafficking causing death (schedule W drug) — Death of another person is caused in part by the trafficked schedule W drug.; maximum for an individual (17-A M.R.S. §1704(1)); organizations up to $100,000 (§1705); statute-specific and alternative fines may exceed (§1706)) | discretionary | 17-A M.R.S. § 1604 |
| Jail / prison | up to 10 years (Trafficking causing serious bodily injury (schedule W drug) — Serious bodily injury of another person is caused in part by the trafficked schedule W drug.; statutory default maximum (17-A M.R.S. §1604(1)(B)); individual statutes may specify a different maximum, and mandatory minimums apply to certain crimes (§1604(3))) | discretionary | 17-A M.R.S. § 1604 |
| Fine | up to $20,000 (Trafficking causing serious bodily injury (schedule W drug) — Serious bodily injury of another person is caused in part by the trafficked schedule W drug.; maximum for an individual (17-A M.R.S. §1704(2)); organizations up to $40,000 (§1705); statute-specific and alternative fines may exceed (§1706)) | discretionary | 17-A M.R.S. § 1604 |
| Jail / prison | up to 30 years (Trafficking in fentanyl powder (large quantity) — The person traffics in 6 or more grams or 270 or more individual containers of fentanyl powder.; statutory default maximum (17-A M.R.S. §1604(1)(A)); individual statutes may specify a different maximum, and mandatory minimums apply to certain crimes (e.g. use of a firearm against an individual, §1604(3))) | discretionary | 17-A M.R.S. § 1604 |
| Fine | up to $50,000 (Trafficking in fentanyl powder (large quantity) — The person traffics in 6 or more grams or 270 or more individual containers of fentanyl powder.; maximum for an individual (17-A M.R.S. §1704(1)); organizations up to $100,000 (§1705); statute-specific and alternative fines may exceed (§1706)) | discretionary | 17-A M.R.S. § 1604 |
Applies to current (PL 2019, c. 113 recodification).
How is aggravated trafficking of scheduled drugs classified in Maine?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trafficking in 112+ grams of cocaine | Class A Crime | The person traffics in cocaine in a quantity of 112 grams or more. | 17-A M.R.S. § 1105-A(1)(D) |
| Trafficking in methamphetamine or amphetamine (large quantity) | Class A Crime | The person traffics in 300 or more units or 100 grams or more of methamphetamine or amphetamine. | 17-A M.R.S. § 1105-A(1)(G) |
| Trafficking in heroin (large quantity) | Class A Crime | The person traffics in 6 or more grams or 270 or more individual containers of heroin. | 17-A M.R.S. § 1105-A(1)(H) |
| Trafficking in narcotic pills/oxycodone/hydromorphone (large quantity) | Class A Crime | The person traffics in 300 or more units of a narcotic drug other than heroin, or large aggregate amounts of oxycodone or hydromorphone. | 17-A M.R.S. § 1105-A(1)(I) |
| Trafficking in MDMA or similar drug (large quantity) | Class A Crime | The person traffics in 300 or more units containing MDMA or another drug listed under section 1102(1)(O). | 17-A M.R.S. § 1105-A(1)(J) |
| Trafficking causing death (schedule W drug) | Class A Crime | Death of another person is caused in part by the trafficked schedule W drug. | 17-A M.R.S. § 1105-A(1)(K) |
| Trafficking causing serious bodily injury (schedule W drug) | Class B Crime | Serious bodily injury of another person is caused in part by the trafficked schedule W drug. | 17-A M.R.S. § 1105-A(1)(L) |
| Trafficking in fentanyl powder (large quantity) | Class A Crime | The person traffics in 6 or more grams or 270 or more individual containers of fentanyl powder. | 17-A M.R.S. § 1105-A(1)(M) |
Common questions about aggravated trafficking of scheduled drugs in Maine
What class of crime is aggravated trafficking of scheduled drugs in Maine?
It depends on the circumstances: aggravated trafficking of scheduled drugs ranges from a Class B Crime to a Class A Crime in Maine under 17-A M.R.S. § 1105-A.
Trafficking in 112+ grams of cocaine: Class A Crime (17-A M.R.S. § 1105-A(1)(D)) · Trafficking in methamphetamine or amphetamine (large quantity): Class A Crime (17-A M.R.S. § 1105-A(1)(G)) · Trafficking in heroin (large quantity): Class A Crime (17-A M.R.S. § 1105-A(1)(H)) · Trafficking in narcotic pills/oxycodone/hydromorphone (large quantity): Class A Crime (17-A M.R.S. § 1105-A(1)(I)) · Trafficking in MDMA or similar drug (large quantity): Class A Crime (17-A M.R.S. § 1105-A(1)(J)) · Trafficking causing death (schedule W drug): Class A Crime (17-A M.R.S. § 1105-A(1)(K)) · Trafficking causing serious bodily injury (schedule W drug): Class B Crime (17-A M.R.S. § 1105-A(1)(L)) · Trafficking in fentanyl powder (large quantity): Class A Crime (17-A M.R.S. § 1105-A(1)(M))
What are the penalties for aggravated trafficking of scheduled drugs in Maine?
Penalties for aggravated trafficking of scheduled drugs in Maine depend on how it is classified — from a Class B Crime up to a Class A Crime — with the ranges set by 17-A M.R.S. § 1604; the full table of ranges by variant is published on this page.
Which Maine statute covers aggravated trafficking of scheduled drugs?
Aggravated trafficking of scheduled drugs is governed by 17-A M.R.S. § 1105-A (Aggravated trafficking of scheduled drugs).
Legal terms used in this law
This reference is informational and is not legal advice. Penalty ranges are the statutory classification ranges; sentencing in a specific case depends on its facts and history.