My family member says they didn't know about the drugs. Should we insist on innocence?

Not automatically. If the evidence supports lack of knowledge, it should be argued firmly. But if phone records, payments, or co-defendant statements contradict that account, insisting on innocence can lead to a harsher sentence and less sympathy from the court. Let the defense lawyer review the evidence first. The right strategy depends on the facts, not on what we hope is true.