Jason Sterling had been watching for signs of unrest amongst the drug users, now that drugs had practically vanished off the streets. His plan to stockpile product and control distribution was working. Soon the drugs would be flowing again, but at a huge profit for the drug cartels he had as shareholders.
The pushers were frantically trying to get more products for their users; it was unwise to mention you had a stash, because either pushers or users would hit you within hours.
The street scene was reaching a critical level, many of the bulk suppliers were not taking calls, and others were claiming their shipments were held back, to push up the price.
Drug enforcement thought Christmas had come early, there was no point in chasing the pushers, so they concentrated on communications and looking for shipments. That too was getting them nowhere; detectable imports were negligible.
DEA decided the best approach was to keep the major players under closer surveillance, and in the process they discovered most of the smaller producers were fighting each other. New leaders were taking power and little business was being done. Key producers were under threat from their customers and were lying low.
Hospitals were inundated with narcotics users in withdrawal, they were now prepared to take anything that would dull the craving, even if it meant entering a rehab program.
Law enforcement needed military help to quell the fight for narcotics. Either the users attacked their suppliers or hospital staff for drugs, or the pushers fought each other and their suppliers. Law-abiding citizens were also battling with government to settle the street war.
Sterling knew it would be only a day or two before the release of stockpiled product, and then the price would more than double on the street.
The backers’ money was also flooding into Jason’s business, because the cartel’s competition had been cut in half, and the value of product was climbing. His backers were so hooked on his business plan, it was embarrassing to watch. Jason Sterling only wanted their money, he did not actually want them as shareholders.
The ripped-off drug lords were unlikely to involve the law and Sterling believed he was practically unreachable. His home was a converted freighter moored alongside the gas harvesting terminus.
He figured that the high profit the drug cartels were about to receive, would ease their pain.