Have you ever wondered why Mexico’s infamous cartels carry out extensive drug operations in Tijuana? One of the biggest reasons is the city’s proximity to the United States. Cartels smuggle drugs into the US via Tijuana, which is why local authorities use rigorous tactics when interrogating anyone arrested for drug crimes in the city.

If you’re arrested for drug crimes in Tijuana, don’t be surprised if you’re subjected to highly assertive and intimidating interrogation tactics. If you don’t speak Spanish and/or aren’t familiar with Mexico’s criminal justice system, chances are you’ll find the experience extremely unnerving!

One of the best ways to remain calm in this scenario is by knowing what kinds of questions you’re likely to be asked. With this in mind, here are three common questions authorities are likely to ask you if you’re a traveler arrested for drug crimes in Tijuana.

1. Where Did You Get the Drugs?

If you’re a traveler and you’re arrested for a drug crime in Tijuana, one of the first things you’re likely to be asked is where they got the drugs from. If you admit to acquiring the drugs in Tijuana, chances are you’ll be pressed for more information. The authorities will want to know who you got the drugs from, how you got to know the person, and whether someone solicited you or you sought the drugs yourself.

The other scenario is if you brought the drugs from abroad. It’s important to remember that while it’s legal to possess drugs like cannabis for recreational use in Mexico, bringing drugs across the US-Mexico border is strictly prohibited. In other words, if you admit to bringing drugs from the United States into Tijuana, you could be charged with drug trafficking. If the charges are confirmed, you’ll face up to 25 years in prison and a fine worth up to 500 days of your daily income depending on the amount of drugs found on your person as per Article 479 of Mexico’s General Health Law and Article 194 of Mexico’s “Codigo Penal Federal” (Federal Penal Code).

In both scenarios, we recommend speaking to an experienced drug possession crimes lawyer before speaking with the authorities to prevent self-incrimination.

2. Why Are You Traveling to Tijuana?

Have you ever heard of the term ‘drug mule’? It refers to a person criminals coerce, trick, or pay to bring drugs across international borders. Unlike regular travelers, drug mules don’t have a clear reason for traveling other than to transport drugs across international borders using dangerous methods like swallowing them. Therefore, quizzing travelers on why they’re traveling helps border officials weed out drug mules who can be pressed further to give up information on large-scale cross-border drug operations.

Unfortunately, criminals in Tijuana are known to recruit students to act as drug mules. Therefore, if you’re traveling to Tijuana for educational purposes and you’re charged with drug crimes, the authorities are likely to press you for information in case you’re a drug mule. If you find yourself in this scenario, we recommend contacting a reputable drug crimes lawyer immediately.

3. Why Do You Have Drugs on Your Person?

It’s tempting to think that asking someone why they have drugs on their person is redundant. But did you know the penalty for drug possession in Mexico varies tremendously depending on the reason for carrying drugs?

For instance, if you’re carrying a small amount of drugs to be used in an indigenous ceremony, you won’t face criminal charges. Similarly, if you’re carrying drugs because you’re an addict, you’ll be referred to the health authorities for rehabilitation rather than facing criminal charges as per Article 199 of the Federal Penal Code.

It’s worth noting that if the local authorities find evidence to suggest that you lied about why you were found with drugs on your person, you’ll face jail time and/or a substantial fine. If you’re asked why you had drugs on your person, we recommend staying silent and politely asking to speak to a drug crimes attorney. They’ll let you know how to respond to achieve the best possible outcome.

Struggling to find a cross-border crimes attorney in Tijuana who specializes in defending clients charged with drug crimes? If so, come speak to our team of expert criminal defense lawyers at Meneses Legal!

At Meneses Legal, we defend clients charged with everything from drug crimes like drug possession to firearms-related crimes like bringing a weapon across the US-Mexico border without a permit. We also help clients embroiled in alleged sex crimes, homicide, and contraband smuggling. We’ve got over forty years of collective experience helping clients charged with cross-border crimes and offer a wealth of informative content on our website related to our practices!

Contact us today to find out why our clients always praise us for having some of the best criminal defense lawyers in Tijuana on our team.