Offence typesFY2018–FY2025
Drug Trafficking
Primary offence type · Commission code 10 · 27.8% of federal cases
The datafile contains cases reported to the Commission with sentencing documents. Sentence length statistics use the Commission's capped variable (sentences of 470 months or longer, including life, are recorded as 470 months) and exclude sentences of probation or a fine only. Figures are aggregates of past cases and are not a prediction for any case.
§ 1Length of prison terms, all districts
Interquartile range 30–120 months; mean 81. 275 cases at the 470-month cap (life or longer).
§ 2Summary
Drug Trafficking was the primary offence type in 145,914 federal cases sentenced across 8 fiscal years (FY2018–FY2025), 27.8% of all cases reported to the Commission, with 16,222 in FY2025.
The national median prison term for drug trafficking offences was 62 months (5 yr 2 mo), against 24 months for all cases; 97% of cases carried a prison term and the middle half of terms fell between 30 and 120 months.
30% of sentences were within the guideline range, 42% below it on a government motion, 26% below it for other reasons and 2% above it.
The districts with the most drug trafficking offences were the Southern District of California (11,061), the Western District of Texas (8,065) and the Southern District of Texas (6,919).
FY2025 had fewer cases than FY2018 (16,222 against 18,747). The median prison term in FY2025 (72 months) was longer than in FY2018 (60 months).
§ 3Position relative to the guideline range
Within guideline range 30%Above range 2%Below range, government sponsored 42%Below range, other 26%Not determinable 106
| Measure | Drug Trafficking | All offence types |
|---|---|---|
| Median prison months | 62 | 24 |
| Mean prison months | 81 | 51 |
| Cases with a prison term | 97% | 92% |
| Within guideline range | 30% | 47% |
| Above range | 2% | 3% |
| Below range, government sponsored | 42% | 29% |
| Below range, other | 26% | 21% |
| Median final offence level | 27 | 17 |
| Criminal history category I | 44% | 46% |
§ 4Districts compared
Every district with at least one case, most cases first. Districts with at least 30 cases in 2021–2025 link to a district × offence page; others link to the district's overview. Rows under 10 cases show the count only.
| District | Cases | Prison | Median months | Within range | Below, gov. | Below, other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southern District of California S.D. Cal. | 11,061 | 98% | 30 | 2% | 94% | 4% |
| Western District of Texas W.D. Tex. | 8,065 | 96% | 60 | 54% | 21% | 24% |
| Southern District of Texas S.D. Tex. | 6,919 | 99% | 60 | 38% | 31% | 31% |
| Northern District of Texas N.D. Tex. | 5,156 | 98% | 108 | 56% | 20% | 22% |
| District of Arizona D. Ariz. | 4,434 | 93% | 24 | 7% | 83% | 10% |
| District of Puerto Rico D.P.R. | 3,763 | 97% | 70 | 44% | 31% | 18% |
| Middle District of Florida M.D. Fla. | 3,649 | 98% | 96 | 31% | 34% | 34% |
| Southern District of New York S.D.N.Y. | 3,265 | 99% | 48 | 14% | 23% | 63% |
| Southern District of Florida S.D. Fla. | 3,090 | 98% | 70 | 38% | 18% | 43% |
| Eastern District of Texas E.D. Tex. | 2,978 | 99% | 120 | 61% | 23% | 14% |
| Northern District of Ohio N.D. Ohio | 2,780 | 94% | 63 | 32% | 43% | 22% |
| Eastern District of Tennessee E.D. Tenn. | 2,732 | 99% | 100 | 37% | 48% | 13% |
| Central District of California C.D. Cal. | 2,554 | 96% | 63 | 18% | 38% | 44% |
| Eastern District of Missouri E.D. Mo. | 2,332 | 95% | 60 | 33% | 38% | 24% |
| Eastern District of North Carolina E.D.N.C. | 2,303 | 98% | 90 | 40% | 44% | 13% |
| Western District of Missouri W.D. Mo. | 2,224 | 94% | 102 | 24% | 39% | 33% |
| District of New Mexico D.N.M. | 2,128 | 98% | 46 | 23% | 45% | 32% |
| District of South Carolina D.S.C. | 2,089 | 97% | 77 | 32% | 38% | 29% |
| Eastern District of Kentucky E.D. Ky. | 1,876 | 99% | 100 | 44% | 32% | 23% |
| Eastern District of Virginia E.D. Va. | 1,831 | 98% | 86 | 41% | 17% | 39% |
| District of Utah D. Utah | 1,829 | 94% | 48 | 13% | 73% | 14% |
| District of New Jersey D.N.J. | 1,763 | 93% | 46 | 26% | 51% | 21% |
| Western District of Pennsylvania W.D. Pa. | 1,756 | 91% | 60 | 35% | 35% | 24% |
| Southern District of Ohio S.D. Ohio | 1,640 | 94% | 59 | 15% | 65% | 20% |
| Southern District of Iowa S.D. Iowa | 1,602 | 99% | 121 | 22% | 37% | 40% |
| District of Nebraska D. Neb. | 1,524 | 99% | 108 | 47% | 19% | 31% |
| Eastern District of California E.D. Cal. | 1,441 | 97% | 64 | 29% | 40% | 30% |
| District of Massachusetts D. Mass. | 1,423 | 98% | 44 | 25% | 36% | 37% |
| Eastern District of Arkansas E.D. Ark. | 1,410 | 92% | 78 | 43% | 20% | 34% |
| District of Oregon D. Or. | 1,395 | 97% | 42 | 8% | 76% | 14% |
| District of Maryland D. Md. | 1,393 | 98% | 60 | 22% | 61% | 12% |
| Northern District of West Virginia N.D.W. Va. | 1,371 | 81% | 57 | 57% | 13% | 29% |
| Northern District of Illinois N.D. Ill. | 1,367 | 98% | 60 | 23% | 21% | 56% |
| Eastern District of New York E.D.N.Y. | 1,361 | 92% | 33 | 14% | 44% | 41% |
| Western District of New York W.D.N.Y. | 1,336 | 96% | 60 | 30% | 45% | 20% |
| Eastern District of Michigan E.D. Mich. | 1,311 | 98% | 66 | 27% | 26% | 46% |
| Southern District of Indiana S.D. Ind. | 1,293 | 99% | 120 | 36% | 30% | 32% |
| Middle District of Pennsylvania M.D. Pa. | 1,285 | 97% | 72 | 37% | 36% | 26% |
| Northern District of California N.D. Cal. | 1,271 | 95% | 30 | 10% | 47% | 42% |
| District of North Dakota D.N.D. | 1,253 | — | 48 | 15% | 73% | 9% |
| District of Connecticut D. Conn. | 1,211 | 91% | 39 | 28% | 29% | 41% |
| Western District of Oklahoma W.D. Okla. | 1,192 | 97% | 80 | 19% | 25% | 56% |
| Western District of North Carolina W.D.N.C. | 1,190 | — | 97 | 38% | 37% | 23% |
| District of Montana D. Mont. | 1,166 | 99% | 63 | 15% | 51% | 33% |
| Western District of Tennessee W.D. Tenn. | 1,165 | 98% | 80 | 31% | 35% | 32% |
| Middle District of Georgia M.D. Ga. | 1,159 | 95% | 96 | 47% | 26% | 27% |
| Southern District of Georgia S.D. Ga. | 1,152 | 95% | 72 | 52% | 32% | 15% |
| Eastern District of Pennsylvania E.D. Pa. | 1,144 | 96% | 60 | 22% | 58% | 19% |
| District of South Dakota D.S.D. | 1,134 | 99% | 120 | 54% | 6% | 38% |
| Northern District of Georgia N.D. Ga. | 1,096 | 98% | 87 | 17% | 62% | 20% |
| District of Idaho D. Idaho | 1,079 | 94% | 70 | 20% | 41% | 38% |
| District of Kansas D. Kan. | 1,064 | 94% | 72 | 28% | 56% | 13% |
| District of Colorado D. Colo. | 1,036 | 96% | 66 | 20% | 53% | 26% |
| District of Minnesota D. Minn. | 1,008 | — | 90 | 18% | 35% | 46% |
| Southern District of West Virginia S.D.W. Va. | 989 | 95% | 60 | 43% | 8% | 47% |
| Western District of Virginia W.D. Va. | 977 | 97% | 87 | 31% | 40% | 25% |
| Northern District of Alabama N.D. Ala. | 970 | 97% | 87 | 36% | 44% | 18% |
| Northern District of Iowa N.D. Iowa | 949 | — | 121 | 33% | 41% | 22% |
| Western District of Kentucky W.D. Ky. | 941 | 98% | 96 | 18% | 64% | 17% |
| Western District of Washington W.D. Wash. | 933 | 99% | 60 | 7% | 67% | 25% |
| Southern District of Mississippi S.D. Miss. | 890 | — | 109 | 62% | 17% | 20% |
| Eastern District of Washington E.D. Wash. | 883 | 98% | 64 | 18% | 64% | 19% |
| Western District of Arkansas W.D. Ark. | 871 | — | 100 | 31% | 24% | 42% |
| Middle District of North Carolina M.D.N.C. | 867 | 93% | 84 | 39% | 26% | 31% |
| Southern District of Alabama S.D. Ala. | 841 | 97% | 70 | 35% | 37% | 27% |
| Northern District of New York N.D.N.Y. | 832 | 98% | 60 | 39% | 36% | 24% |
| Eastern District of Wisconsin E.D. Wis. | 829 | 93% | 60 | 12% | 41% | 45% |
| Southern District of Illinois S.D. Ill. | 800 | 98% | 110 | 52% | 24% | 22% |
| Western District of Louisiana W.D. La. | 799 | 97% | 120 | 60% | 21% | 17% |
| Western District of Michigan W.D. Mich. | 763 | 99% | 96 | 35% | 33% | 30% |
| Northern District of Indiana N.D. Ind. | 742 | 97% | 78 | 39% | 34% | 25% |
| Central District of Illinois C.D. Ill. | 738 | — | 120 | 23% | 34% | 41% |
| Eastern District of Louisiana E.D. La. | 735 | 96% | 81 | 50% | 28% | 21% |
| Northern District of Oklahoma N.D. Okla. | 727 | 90% | 60 | 33% | 51% | 14% |
| District of New Hampshire D.N.H. | 718 | 96% | 44 | 15% | 57% | 26% |
| Northern District of Florida N.D. Fla. | 714 | 98% | 78 | 27% | 43% | 29% |
| District of Nevada D. Nev. | 654 | 93% | 60 | 19% | 55% | 25% |
| District of Vermont D. Vt. | 645 | 96% | 28 | 10% | 56% | 34% |
| Middle District of Tennessee M.D. Tenn. | 618 | 96% | 78 | 14% | 59% | 24% |
| District of Columbia D.D.C. | 610 | 95% | 60 | 34% | 36% | 28% |
| District of Hawaii D. Haw. | 606 | — | 70 | 22% | 49% | 28% |
| District of Maine D. Me. | 530 | 95% | 46 | 14% | 58% | 27% |
| Middle District of Alabama M.D. Ala. | 480 | 95% | 92 | 29% | 44% | 25% |
| District of Wyoming D. Wyo. | 454 | — | 84 | 24% | 48% | 26% |
| District of Alaska D. Alaska | 447 | — | 60 | 18% | 47% | 33% |
| Western District of Wisconsin W.D. Wis. | 444 | 97% | 78 | 15% | 17% | 67% |
| Northern District of Mississippi N.D. Miss. | 366 | 90% | 60 | 30% | 48% | 21% |
| Eastern District of Oklahoma E.D. Okla. | 334 | — | 87 | 52% | 31% | 16% |
| District of Rhode Island D.R.I. | 301 | 96% | 41 | 8% | 44% | 47% |
| Middle District of Louisiana M.D. La. | 246 | — | 70 | 37% | 39% | 24% |
| District of the Virgin Islands D.V.I. | 241 | 90% | 51 | 66% | 11% | 21% |
| District of Delaware D. Del. | 227 | 95% | 60 | 31% | 41% | 23% |
| District of Guam D. Guam | 122 | — | 60 | 35% | 43% | 21% |
| District of the Northern Mariana Islands D.N. Mar. I. | 32 | — | 57 | 38% | 44% | — |
§ 5Circuits compared
| Circuit | Cases | Prison | Median months | Within range | Below, gov. | Below, other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia Circuit | 610 | 95% | 60 | 34% | 36% | 28% |
| First Circuit | 6,735 | 97% | 60 | 33% | 38% | 25% |
| Second Circuit | 8,650 | 96% | 46 | 20% | 34% | 44% |
| Third Circuit | 6,416 | 94% | 60 | 32% | 43% | 23% |
| Fourth Circuit | 13,010 | 95% | 78 | 38% | 33% | 27% |
| Fifth Circuit | 26,154 | 98% | 70 | 51% | 24% | 24% |
| Sixth Circuit | 13,826 | 97% | 78 | 30% | 44% | 23% |
| Seventh Circuit | 6,213 | 97% | 80 | 29% | 29% | 41% |
| Eighth Circuit | 14,307 | 97% | 90 | 32% | 34% | 31% |
| Ninth Circuit | 28,078 | 96% | 36 | 9% | 73% | 17% |
| Tenth Circuit | 8,764 | 96% | 60 | 22% | 50% | 26% |
| Eleventh Circuit | 13,151 | 97% | 84 | 35% | 33% | 31% |
§ 6Trend by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Cases | Prison | Median months | Within range | Below, gov. | Below, other | Above |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2018 | 18,747 | 96% | 60 | 36% | 38% | 24% | 2% |
| FY2019 | 19,830 | 96% | 60 | 34% | 38% | 26% | 2% |
| FY2020 | 16,390 | 97% | 60 | 32% | 39% | 27% | 2% |
| FY2021 | 17,608 | 97% | 60 | 28% | 43% | 27% | 2% |
| FY2022 | 19,938 | 97% | 60 | 27% | 45% | 26% | 2% |
| FY2023 | 19,007 | 97% | 66 | 27% | 45% | 27% | 2% |
| FY2024 | 18,172 | 97% | 70 | 29% | 43% | 26% | 2% |
| FY2025 | 16,222 | 97% | 72 | 29% | 43% | 26% | 2% |
§ 7Criminal history
Share of cases at each final criminal history category; grey figure: all federal cases.
§ 8Guideline sections involved
| Primary guideline | Subject | Cases | Share of this offence type |
|---|---|---|---|
| §2D1.1 | Unlawful manufacturing, importing, exporting, trafficking or possession with intent (drugs) | 143,046 | 98.0% |
| §2D1.2 | Drug offenses occurring near protected locations or involving underage or pregnant individuals | 1,938 | 1.3% |
| §2D1.8 | Renting or managing a drug establishment | 130 | 0.1% |
| §2X3.1 | Accessory after the fact | 125 | 0.1% |
| §2D1.5 | 57 | 0.0% | |
| §2D1.10 | 22 | 0.0% | |
| §2X1.1 | Attempt, solicitation or conspiracy (not covered by a specific guideline) | <10 | — |
| §2D1.14 | <10 | — |
§ 9Questions and answers
What is the average federal sentence for drug trafficking offences?
The median prison term over FY2018–FY2025 was 62 months (5 yr 2 mo) and the mean was 81 months (life sentences counted as 470 months, the Commission's convention). Medians are used on this site because a few very long terms pull the mean upward.
How much does the sentence for drug trafficking offences vary by district?
Among districts with at least 10 cases, medians ranged from 24 months (D. Ariz.) to 121 months (S.D. Iowa). The mix of guidelines, statutory minimums and criminal history within the offence type explains much of the spread.
How often are drug trafficking offences sentenced outside the guideline range?
70% of sentences were outside the range: 42% below it on a government motion, 26% below it for other reasons and 2% above it.
Which guidelines apply to drug trafficking offences?
The most common primary guidelines are §2D1.1, §2D1.2, §2D1.8 and §2X3.1. The Commission assigns the offence type mainly from the primary guideline the court applied.
Where do these figures come from?
The US Sentencing Commission's individual offender datafiles, FY2018–FY2025, using the Commission's OFFGUIDE offence type, SENTRNGE range status and SENTTCAP capped prison months. Counts under 10 are hidden.
§ 10Provenance
Source: United States Sentencing Commission, Individual Offender Datafiles, fiscal years 2018–2025 (US government works), aggregated by this site; the FY2025 file is dated 29 Apr 2026. Offence type is the Commission's OFFGUIDE code 10. Counts below 10 are hidden or pooled. Errors in this site's processing are corrected at the next build; see corrections. Methodology.