Bolivia will militarize the border to combat smuggling –

The president of Bolivia, Luis Arceindicated this Monday at Armed forces that militarize the border with Peru to prevent them from leaving Bolivian territory for smuggling essential products, given the economic crisis that the country is experiencing due to the high prices of various foods, lack of liquidity of the dollar and fuel shortages.

“We have already instructed our Armed Forces to militarize the borders, to not let (the products) leave and we are still gradually introducing various regulations to tighten the control we have to carry out at the borders”said Arce during his speech for the 73rd anniversary of the Confederation of Factory Workers.

For several months, producers and merchants have carried out what the Government called “ant smuggling” to sell their products outside of Bolivia at a better price and to obtain dollars, a currency that is scarce in the Andean country.

Arce assured that thanks to Bolivia’s good food production, several countries “take advantage” of the low costs.

“We have subsidized diesel, therefore the cost of our agricultural production is subsidized and they are taking that production to sell more expensive abroad”Arce added.

For his part, the vice minister of Defense of User and Consumer Rights, Jorge Silvareported that foods such as rice, flour, sugar, chicken, beef and pork are being smuggled to Peru, through the border region of Desaguadero.

In Peruvian territory, the price of these products increases and that factor “is affecting the prices we have in the country,” Silva explained.

In the markets of the central axis of Bolivia (Peace, Cochabamba y Holy Cross), the price of meat and other essential products rose by up to one dollar (7 bolivianos) and citizens have reported that the increase affects the family economy.

“Every day the price of these products increases due to the difference in prices that we have, especially with Peru”said the vice minister.

President Arce pointed out that adding to this problem that Bolivia is going through is the climate crisis in the South American region, which “has been reducing the productive capacity of food.”

Bolivia has suffered from a lack of dollar liquidity since the beginning of 2023 and this year the shortage of fuel, gasoline, and diesel worsened, which continues to affect the country’s main cities due to import difficulties. EFE (I)