Bolivia Militarizes Borders to Prevent Exit of Food
Bolivian military inspect a truck loaded with eggs, Oct. 2024. X/ @lavozdetarija
October 8, 2024 Hour: 1:54 pm
Bolivian agricultural products are sought after in neighbouring countries because their prices are lower.
On Monday, President Luis Arce militarized the border with Peru to prevent essential goods from being smuggled out of Bolivian territory.
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“I ordered our Armed Forces to militarize the borders to stop the products from leaving. We are still gradually issuing various regulations to tighten the control we need to enforce at the borders,” he said during his speech marking the 73rd anniversary of the Confederation of Factory Workers.
In recent months, prices of basic goods have skyrocketed due to smuggling to Peru, Brazil, Chile, and Argentina, where Bolivian products are sold at much higher prices than in their country of origin.
Known locally as “Ant Smuggling,” the illegal export of food has caused shortages in the Bolivian market, affecting products like rice, sugar, and meat, which has, in turn, fueled short-term inflationary trends.
This situation has been worsened by factors that have reduced Bolivian agricultural production, including imported inflation due to the global rise in the cost of basic goods and the effects of extreme weather events such as droughts and frosts, said Economy Minister Marcelo Montenegro.
The decision to militarize the borders not only involves the deployment of military personnel at strategic points but also the implementation of stricter regulations to control the illegal movement of goods. This measure aims not only to protect the internal economy and stabilize prices but also to ensure that the products subsidized by the Arce administration benefit the Bolivian population and are not diverted to foreign markets.
The government’s response to the current economic crisis is also being impacted by shortages of dollars and fuel, which affect the importation of goods and services. This situation has sparked protests among merchants and raised concerns about the Arce administration’s ability to maintain economic stability in a complex regional and international context.
teleSUR/ JF Sources: La Prensa – EFE
