More than 70 traders in Fiji are being investigated for overcharging customers during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Competition and Consumer Commission said it had received a high volume of complaints of price gouging, (when traders increased the price of goods or services unreasonably.)
Joel Abraham. Photo: Supplied/Fiji govt
The commission's chief executive Joel Abraham said the usual suspects included supermarkets, pharmacies, corner stores, wholesalers and importers.
Mr Abraham said he was concerned the "unethical business practices" were not only limited to the urban centres.
"Our inspections not only look at traders in the central or urban areas but also in the rural and maritime communities.
"About 5-7 traders on Ovalau Island are under investigation," he said.
"Some traders have been quite blatant in the manner in which they operate. There was one business we visited where it was overcharging on all items."
Mr Abraham said while the majority of businesses had responded responsibly, a minority had engaged in profiteering.
He said the commission was working to ensure consumers were not being exploited.
Inflating prices to profit off the backs of communities was adding to people's distress, Mr Abraham said.
And this could also damage traders' reputations.
"So far we have conducted more than 1375 inspections over the last week or so and from that number, we have found 93 traders that were breaching the law, 20 traders have been charged, few traders are in the caution interview process and 73 traders are currently actively under investigation."
Mr Abraham urged consumers to report businesses which were behaving unfairly.