Egypt Police Raid Sugar Sellers as Shortage Doubles Prices

Officials are seizing company sugar stocks to sell to public
Government released sugar seized from food producer Edita

Refined sugar.
Photographer: Andrey Rudakov/Bloomberg

Provide news feedback or report an error

Confidential tip?

Send a tip to our reporters

Site feedback:

Take our Survey

By Salma El Wardany and Ahmed Feteha

October 24, 2016 at 4:24 PM UTC

Updated on

October 25, 2016 at 10:33 AM UTC

This article is for subscribers only.

Food trader Adel Abdou was enjoying a weekend with his family when police raided his warehouse in Cairo and seized 45 tons of sugar.

“They treat us like drug dealers now,” Abdou said on Sunday, adding that he’s moved quickly to dispose of his rice and oil stocks in case they’re also confiscated. “I will not work anymore. Do I want to get locked up?”