"We are cooperating with the National Police chief and the Military chief to combat the rice mafia," Trade Minister Rachmat Gobel said.Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Ministry of Trade, in cooperation with the Police and Military, is endeavoring to crack down on the rice mafia in a bid to control the fluctuating prices of rice, stated Trade Minister Rachmat Gobel.
"We are cooperating with the National Police chief and the Military chief to combat the rice mafia," Gobel remarked at Jakartas State Logistics Agency (Bulog) building here on Wednesday.
Gobel noted that he will take legal action and revoke the licenses of rice dealers found selling their stocks at inflated prices or involved in illegal stockpiling of rice allocated by the government for the poor.
"If they are found hoarding the governments rice, or raising the prices of rice, we will take the strongest possible action against them," the trade minister remarked.
Gobel revealed that in addition to curbing the rice mafia, the trade ministry will also conduct rice market operations in cooperation with Bulog.
"With Bulog, we will continue to conduct rice market operations to control the fluctuating prices," the minister added.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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