Shoppers fingerprinted at state-run supermarkets

The Venezuelan government has started to fingerprint shoppers at some state-run supermarkets in a plan to combat food scarcity.

Shoppers have struggled for more than a year to find basic goods including powdered milk and cooking oil. Currency controls implemented over a decade ago under the late president Hugo Chavez mean importers do not have the US dollars required for imports.

Long queues are a ubiquitous sight in shops, while Venezuelans often have to visit several stores to find what they are looking for or settle for substitutes.