Arrests for Drug Offenses in the US in 2023, By Type of Offense and Substance Type

In 2023, the FBI reports there were a total of 870,874 arrests for all drug offenses, of which 107,118 were for sale or manufacture of any drug, and 763,756 were for possession of any drug.

Of the 107,118 sale/manufacture arrests in 2023, 39,189 were for heroin, cocaine, and their derivatives; 18,288 were for marijuana; 6,967 were for synthetic or manufactured drugs; and 42,673 were for "other dangerous nonnarcotic" drugs.

Of the 763,756 possession arrests in 2023, 141,952 were for heroin, cocaine, and their derivatives; 222,073 were for marijuana; 45,285 were for synthetic or manufactured drugs; and 356,187 were for "other dangerous nonnarcotic" drugs. 
 

Source

FBI Uniform Crime Report. "Crime in the United States 2023". FBI Crime Data Explorer. Washington, DC: US Dept. of Justice. Data updated Sept. 23, 2024. Last accessed April 17, 2025.

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