Bolivia: Cooking Oil Price Gouging Exposed in El Alto Raid

El Alto, Bolivia – In a recent operation in the Villa Dolores area of El Alto, municipal authorities uncovered a scheme by local grocers to inflate the price of cooking oil. Inspectors found significant quantities of oil hidden in back rooms and storage areas. One merchant was caught selling five-liter containers for 120 Bolivianos, more than double the usual price of 72 Bolivianos. "We found the oil hidden," explained one municipal official in an interview, "and forced them to sell it at the correct price." Residents expressed relief at the intervention. "They were hiding it," said one woman, "selling it for 125 Bolivianos when it should be 72." The operation ensured that the oil was made available to the public at a fair price. Legal action is pending against the businesses involved in price gouging. The incident highlights the challenges of ensuring fair pricing of essential goods, especially during economic hardship.