In a case that has raised concerns about food security, police in northern China have detained five people for allegedly colluding to steal about 10,000 tonnes (22 million pounds) of corn valued at around 25 million yuan (US$3.45 million) over a two-year period. The grain dealer surnamed Guo in Hebei province has been accused of misrepresenting delivery data between 2020 and 2022, leading to discrepancies in the inventory of an unidentified “major local grain company” in the province. The deception was made possible with the help of four granary workers, one of whom, surnamed Gou, was employed by the grain company as a security guard. Gou was supposed to protect the grain but instead “colluded with grain dealers and became a grain-stealing mouse instead of a food guard,” according to a CCTV report. Despite these challenges, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs has stated that China has managed to maintain “ample grain reserves.” China’s ratio of food reserves to consumption is “far above” the 17 to 18 per cent line recommended by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, according to the ministry, though no specific figure was provided.
Five Detained in Major Corn Theft Ring in China
