He affirmed that in the last 24 hours the Strategic Operational Command seized in less than 24 hours an important amount of varied products.

He indicated that, in the town of Santiago de Machaca, department of La Paz, a bus was intercepted last Saturday with assorted merchandise.

According to the authority, the goods seized by the Joint Task Force Alfa included white goods, perfumes, tools, wheelchairs, carts, suitcases, gas bottles, diesel and food cans.

The authority informed that the latter included 500 liters of oil and 12,000 kilos of sugar, and that the total amount in hands of the smugglers was one million Bolivianos (142,000 dollars).

Velasquez said that in the last hours the Supervision and Control unit of his Vice Ministry intercepted a minibus with control plate 3118-CFP at the Guaqui Border Control Post, which was carrying 800 kilograms of pork, with an approximate value of 30,400 Bolivianos (US$ 4,342).

Two trucks were also intercepted with 60,000 kilos of potatoes, worth approximately 150,000 Bolivianos (US$21,000) at the 40 Sombra Pata milestone, in the Guaqui sector.

He added that in the town of Boyuibe, department of Santa Cruz, another truck was seized last Saturday with assorted merchandise, whose value was estimated at 500,000 Bolivianos (almost 72,000 dollars).

According to this authority, the vehicle was illegally transporting flour, edible oil, nuts, detergents and also a large quantity of precursor chemicals.

The government authorities are currently reinforcing the fight against illegal extraction, speculation and shortage of basic food basket products such as oil and rice, warning that this phenomenon threatens the country’s food security.

All these products are illegally extracted from Bolivian territory in the so-called reverse smuggling to be sold in bordering countries at prices several times more expensive, with the consequent damage to the domestic market.

ef/abo/mem/jpm