The fuel smuggling racket has exploded inside Venezuela. Anyone who can be is involved in it.

It has become the fastest-growing business in the country - and our investigations show the sale of fuel on the black market has probably increased since the country's president announced plans to put up prices to try to stem the flow of cross-border smuggling.

We witnessed huge queues for fuel in San Cristobal, not far from the Colombian border. Some of the lines were as long as four kilometres, snaking around the block.

People lined up for as long as six hours, sometimes camping overnight to make sure they could buy fuel.

Many will sell this on at a profit; the fuel will be diverted to the organised smuggling gangs who are ferrying it across the border at quadruple the price.


Venezuela has the largest reserves of oil in the world and - up until now - the cheapest fuel.

But as the country is plunged into economic, social and political chaos, its citizens are finding it hard to cope with the rampant hyperinflation, crumbling services and lack of basic goods.

Image: Queues for fuel go on for miles

In some cases, prices are doubling every two days, yet the minimum wage per month may only cover the cost of a pack of eggs or a cup of coffee.

"This money is worthless - I cannot buy a single egg with this," said one frustrated local.

So thousands are turning to the cheapest commodity in the country to try to make ends meet.

Image: People in Venezuela are finding it hard to cope with rampant hyperinflation

We filmed drivers buying fuel on the black market, filling up their car tanks, then driving to the border to "throw" it, which is slang for selling to smugglers.

One told me: "It's really bad. It not only makes me angry, but it is an outrage because this regime is forcing us to do this and the security forces there are corrupt."

The smugglers then illegally transport it - day and night - across the porous border into Colombia, where they can make a huge profit.

President Nicolas Maduro has announced plans to put up fuel costs to try to cut down on the smuggling, but the prices are only expected to come into effect in September.

Until then, drivers are ratcheting up their black market business in case smuggling becomes that bit more difficult.

But no one expects it to stop altogether.