Bolivia Crackdown: Hidden Cooking Oil Unearthed in El Alto Market

El Alto, Bolivia: Cooking Oil Price Gouging Leads to Market Crackdown On May 23, 2025, authorities in El Alto, Bolivia, launched a crackdown on merchants engaging in price gouging of cooking oil. The operation, which involved the Intendencia (local government authority), uncovered 12 boxes of oil hidden in local stores. This action was a direct response to growing complaints from citizens struggling with rising costs of essential goods. "We found 12 boxes, and each box contains approximately 10-12 bottles," explained an Intendencia official during an on-site interview. "The oil was being hidden to create artificial scarcity and drive up prices." The official also stated that sanctions would be issued and documentation reviewed for the businesses involved. The video shows the discovery of the hidden oil and includes an interview with a local resident expressing frustration over the rising cost of food and the difficulty in finding affordable oil. "There is no oil, no rice, the price of noodles has gone up," she lamented. "What are we going to do? We can't afford what we have." The operation highlights the ongoing struggle to regulate markets and ensure fair prices for essential goods in El Alto. The swift response of the authorities provides a measure of assurance to consumers, but the underlying issue of rising food costs remains a persistent challenge.