The death of the second largest dealer of prohibited drugs in the province has “gravely affected” the illegal drugs trade in Negros Oriental, according to OIC provincial police director Sr. Supt. Mariano Natu-el, Jr.
Marlon Silva, the alleged number one biggest drug dealer in Tanjay City and the second largest dealer in Negros Oriental, was killed in a grenade blast that he allegedly set off during a standoff with police authorities last week.
According to Sr. Supt. Natue-el, Silva was tagged as a “Level 2 drug dealer” in Negros Oriental as per police records. This means that Silva was capable of disposing as much as two kilos of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu per week, Natu-el said.
He describes this as “alarming”, noting that the volume of drugs being allegedly peddled by Silva when he was alive would cater to a large number of users and pushers.
Natu-el could not give an exact estimate of the street value of shabu in Negros Oriental, but a kilo of the prohibited drug runs by the millions of pesos, he added.
The provincial police director expects a drop in the supply of shabu in the province in the coming days after Silva’s death but he cautioned that the illegal trade could still bounce back because of number one drug pusher in the province who is still operating.
Meanwhile, Natu-el confirmed that the top guy in the illegal drugs trade in the province is a native of Negros Oriental but that person is operating from somewhere else.
That person is considered a “Level 1 drug pusher” which can supply or peddle as much as four kilos of shabu per week, Natu-el said.
He said this person’s identity has been verified but declined to disclose it.
Members of the Provincial Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group of the Philippine National Police in Negros Oriental have been directed to closely monitor the activities of the top guy in the illegal drugs trade in the province, Natu-el added.
Natu-el said this person visits the province from time to time although drug suppliers are usually not directly involved in the selling of illegal drugs.
The late Silva was also believed to be getting his supply from this top drug personality in the province, Natu-el said. (PNA)
