You’re driving through Los Santos with a trunk full of product and nowhere to put it. We've all been there. It’s frustrating. You’ve spent hours grinding your MC businesses or keeping your Nightclub popularity up, only to realize the traditional sell missions are a massive pain in the neck. Honestly, who wants to fly a slow Dodo plane across the map while three Oppressor Mk IIs circle like vultures? Nobody. That is exactly why the daily Street Dealers were such a game-changer when Rockstar dropped the Los Santos Drug Wars update.
They’re fast. They're convenient.
Basically, these guys are the shortcut every solo player needs. But there’s a catch—and it’s a big one. These NPCs move. Every single day at 06:00 UTC, they pack up their sketchy folding tables and vanish, reappearing in three entirely different spots across San Andreas. If you don't know the drug dealer locations GTA enthusiasts track religiously, you’re just burning gas and wasting time.
The Daily Hunt for Street Dealers
You won't find these guys on your map immediately. They only pop up as a purple "bubble" icon once you get within about 500 meters of their specific coordinates. It’s sort of a hide-and-seek mechanic that encourages exploration, though most of us just want the cash. There are always three of them active at any given time. One might be tucked behind a liquor store in Sandy Shores, while another is chilling in a Paleto Bay alleyway, and the third is lurking under a pier in La Puerta.
Each dealer buys four specific types of product: Acid, Weed, Coke, and Meth.
Here is the kicker. Each dealer has a "Preferred" drug. They’ll pay double the market rate for that specific item. If you sell Meth to a dealer who actually wants Meth that day, you’re making a killing compared to the standard payout. You’ve gotta be smart about it, though. You can only sell a limited amount to each person daily. It’s usually around 10 units of Meth, 2 units of Coke, 40 units of Weed, and 10 units of Acid. Once you hit that cap, they’re done with you until the daily reset.
💡 You might also like: Hogwarts Legacy PS5: Why the Magic Still Holds Up in 2026
Why Locations Matter More Than You Think
Los Santos is huge. If you’re spawning at your Agency in Rockford Hills and the dealers are all in the Grand Senora Desert, you’re looking at a five-minute flight. That might not sound like much, but in the world of GTA Online, time is literally money. Knowing the general spawn pool helps. They tend to stick to specific types of areas:
- Back alleys in Downtown Los Santos (especially near Vespucci).
- Behind trailer parks in Blaine County.
- Under bridge overpasses.
- Small parking lots near 24/7 convenience stores.
I’ve noticed they never spawn in "high-security" areas like the airport or military base. They prefer the grime. The grittier the spot, the more likely you’ll find a dealer leaning against a wall waiting for a hand-off.
How to Maximize Your Payout
Don't just sell everything to the first guy you find. That’s a rookie move. Because each of the three dealers has a different preferred product, you should ideally visit all three to sell your various stocks at the 2x premium.
If you have a full Acid Lab, find the dealer specifically requesting Acid. Sell your limit there. Then, fly to the next location for the guy wanting Coke. If you do this right, you’re essentially bypassing the risk of a 15-minute delivery mission where a random level 500 can blow up your entire inventory. It’s the ultimate "low risk, high reward" strategy for the modern Los Santos entrepreneur.
Wait. There is a downside.
📖 Related: Little Big Planet Still Feels Like a Fever Dream 18 Years Later
Selling to Street Dealers pulls directly from your business stock. If you’re trying to build up a massive shipment for a traditional sell mission to get that "High Demand" bonus in a full lobby, these guys will eat into your profits. It’s a trade-off. Do you want the guaranteed, quick cash of a street deal, or the risky, massive payout of a full warehouse sale? Most solo players are leaning toward the dealers these days. It’s just safer.
The Community Tools You Actually Need
Since the locations change every 24 hours, keeping a mental map is impossible. There are 50+ possible spawn points. You aren't going to check them all. Most players rely on community-driven maps like GTAWeb.eu or the various "Daily Reset" threads on Reddit. These are updated within minutes of the 06:00 UTC shift. Honestly, just bookmarking one of those interactive maps is the only way to play efficiently.
Hidden Details Most Players Miss
There's some nuance to how these interactions work. For instance, did you know your character actually hands over a physical bag during the animation? It’s a small detail, but it makes the world feel alive. Also, the prices aren't static—well, the base prices are, but the "Premium" price fluctuates slightly based on the dealer's specific "demand" for that day.
Another thing: if you don't own a specific business, you can't sell that product. Obvious, right? But some people think they can just flip stolen goods. Nope. You need the underlying infrastructure—the MC Clubhouse and the associated businesses (Coke Lockup, Weed Farm, etc.)—to actually have the inventory to sell. The only exception is the Acid Lab, which is arguably the best business for this anyway since it’s mobile and easy to restock.
Dealing with the Law
While you're at a drug dealer location GTA cops aren't usually an issue unless you're already being chased. However, if you're in a public lobby, these locations are often "hot zones." Other players know where the dealers are. It’s not uncommon to find a proximity mine tucked behind the corner of a dealer's spot or a sniper waiting on a nearby roof.
👉 See also: Why the 20 Questions Card Game Still Wins in a World of Screens
Always approach the dealer in an armored vehicle or, better yet, use Passive Mode if you're just trying to get your daily sales done without the headache of a dogfight. Just remember you have to disable Passive Mode to actually interact with the dealer and complete the transaction.
The Math Behind the Hustle
Let's talk numbers. Selling a full "premium" batch of Meth to a street dealer can net you roughly $17,000 to $20,000 for just a few seconds of work. If you hit all three dealers and sell their preferred items, you’re looking at an easy $60,000 to $100,000 daily profit in under ten minutes.
Compare that to a standard MC sell mission. Those often take 10 to 15 minutes, involve multiple vehicles if you're solo, and pay out maybe $200k–$300k for a full bar. The "per minute" earnings for Street Dealers are actually significantly higher. It’s the "passive income" equivalent of active work.
Actionable Strategy for Your Next Session
To make the most of this, stop treating these dealers like an afterthought. They should be the first thing you do when you log in.
- Check an interactive map immediately upon spawning to see where the three dealers are located for the current day.
- Verify your stock levels via the Master Control Terminal in your Arcade or by visiting your businesses. You need at least the daily limit (e.g., 10 units of Meth) to max out the sale.
- Prioritize the "Premium" goods. Look at what each dealer is paying double for. If Dealer A wants Weed and Dealer B wants Coke, make sure you don't accidentally sell your Coke to Dealer A for the standard price.
- Use a fast vehicle. An Oppressor Mk II, a Sparrow, or even a fast supercar like the Krieger will cut your travel time between the three spots down to almost nothing.
- Restock immediately. After you sell to the dealers, your business stock will be lower. Call Mutt to restock the Acid Lab or head to your MC businesses to ensure they’re still producing for the next day's reset.
By integrating these locations into your daily loop, you're looking at an extra $700,000 a week for almost zero effort. It’s the easiest money in Los Santos since the Union Depository contract. Don't leave that cash sitting on the sidewalk. Get out there, find the purple icons, and get paid.