POSSIBLE CARROT HOARDING LEADS TO INVESTIGATION|檢調追菜蟲 查大盤商囤貨300噸紅蘿蔔

Kaohsiung City officials and prosecutors found that a produce wholesaler stored 300 tons of carrots in a refrigerated storage unit. Many stored carrots even have mould on them. This raised suspicion that the seller may be hoarding stocks and jacking up prices. The owner was questioned and released on a bail of NT$100,000. The wholesaler said in his own defense that they sell 10 tons of carrots per day; therefore, the amount of carrots in storage is not unusual. A task force formed by Kaohsiung City police and prosecutors raided a refrigerated storage unit in Lujhu after receiving reports of hoarding and found almost 300 tons of carrots in storage. Investigators suspected the wholesaler for hoarding when they found that molds have formed on some carrots. The owner was brought in for questioning and released on a bail of NT$100,000. ==CHIANG, Produce wholesaler== We had more rain this year during harvest. That's why some are mouldy. 300 tons is not a lot. I told the prosecutor that 300 tons is less than a month's sale. The wholesaler claimed that they sell around 10 tons of carrots a day. Since the carrots in storage are even less than a month's supply, it is ridiculous to call it hoarding. Prosecutors found that the distributor bought 1,500 tons of carrots at NT$4-5/kg and sold them at NT$15. However, lately, the carrot retail prices have risen significantly to almost NT$45. ==MARKET VENDOR== Taiwanese carrots are too expensive, and the quality is not good. We bought from the supplier at NT$56 this morning. ==CONSUMER== Sellers want to hoard stocks and make more profit. That's just typical business people. The carrots wholesaler takes up 15% market share in the traditional markets in southern Taiwan. Prosecutors will continue their investigation to determine if the seller has been hoarding stocks. TRANSLATED BY：CHRISTINA LIU 高雄檢調跟市府聯合稽查小組，查獲南部一名大盤商，在冷凍庫囤放300公噸的國產紅蘿蔔，檢方認為，裡面的紅蘿蔔很多都發霉，認為業者涉嫌哄抬物價來囤積物品，訊問後以10萬元讓對方交保，不過大盤商說，他1天要出貨10公噸，對他來說這些量不算大量。 高雄檢警調跟市府組成的聯合稽查小組接到檢舉，說有大盤商疑似大量囤貨，相關人員到業者位在路竹的冷凍庫，發現裡頭的紅蘿蔔數量將近300公噸，但有許多紅蘿蔔已經發霉，檢調認為業者寧可讓紅蘿蔔擺到發霉、而也不提早賣到市面上很不尋常，懷疑他涉嫌囤積物品牟利將他移送，訊後讓這名大盤商以10萬元交保。 ==江姓大盤商== 因為今年採收的時候 雨水比較多 所以貨發霉 爛掉的會比較多 300百公噸 算不多 我有跟檢察官報告 300百公噸不夠我一個月用 大盤商喊冤，說自己1天出貨量10公噸，冷凍庫裡的貨量，還不足一個月的供貨量，自己都擔心貨源不足了，怎麼算是囤貨， 不過檢方發現，業者當初向產地農民買1500公噸紅蘿蔔，產地價格是1公斤4元到5元，加工清洗後一斤賣出15元，但最近果菜市場，紅蘿蔔價格1斤將近45元，兩邊價差近3倍。 ==傳統市場攤商== 目前我們台灣的紅蘿蔔太貴了 然後品質又不好 早上那個 我們那邊的中盤市場 我們跟它批發的話 就要批到(1)台斤56塊了 ==民眾== 他(業者)就囤貨要漲價要賺錢 所以說生意人就是這樣呀 這名大盤商的紅蘿蔔銷往從台南以南的傳統市場，市占率有1成5，雖然對方不斷喊冤，不過檢方認為疑點重重，還是會繼續追查。 記者 王柔婷 陳顯坤 溫正衡 高雄/台南報導