Local butchers feel the pinch

MEDAN, North Sumatra: Local meat suppliers are complaining that meat smuggled from outside the province is severely undermining their trade.

The local supermarkets and hotels are believed to have been the main buyers of the smuggled meat. This leaves the local butchers serving only the less wealthy citizens, Parlin Pasaribu, a member of the city's legislative council, said as reported by Antara.

The meat suppliers said as much as one ton of meat each day is believed to be smuggled from outside the city and its price also undercuts the locally supplied meat.

The association of local meat suppliers said they used to sell 2,000 kg of meat each day but now they're lucky to even get 400 kg. (emb)