Since the biometric system that uses fingerprints to control basic food purchases has been put in place, authorities have been able to seize 23 thousand tons of stockpiled food that would have gone to the Venezuelan black market. According to the head of the Department of Food, Ivan Bello, this program combats the reselling of food, food trafficking and panic purchasing. The Superintendent of Fair Prices, Andres Eloy, states that "there are kingpins of urban contraband who use subterfuge to intercept and hoard products." teleSUR