Cochabamba Fights Back Against Cooking Oil Price Gouging

Cochabamba's Intendencia Steps In to Curb Cooking Oil Price Gouging Cochabamba, Bolivia – In a move to address rising cooking oil prices, the Cochabamba intendencia launched a series of operations in local markets on May 24, 2025. These operations resulted in the discovery of significant quantities of cooking oil being hoarded by vendors. In response, the intendencia compelled these vendors to sell their stock at prices deemed fair and affordable for consumers. "In the areas we intervened, we found the product stockpiled," stated an intendencia official in an interview featured in a recent Unitel news report. "We are expediting the sale in accordance with standard prices, ensuring fair profit for vendors." The price increases had caused significant distress among Cochabamba residents, with many reporting prices as high as 24 Bolivianos per liter. One resident interviewed by Unitel stated, "It's unbelievable that merchants would abuse the situation by selling at 150 or 145 Bolivianos per liter. It's outrageous!" The intendencia's intervention has resulted in long lines of consumers eager to purchase oil at the regulated prices. The initiative is seen as a step towards stabilizing prices and ensuring fair access to essential goods for the community. The intendencia plans to continue market monitoring to prevent future price gouging.