Chicken meat prices in the domestic market are causing poultry producers to risk spending up to 10 years imprisonment, Mr Morales announced on Thursday.

"This situation is punishable under the Criminal Code and the practice is arbitrary and harmful to the economy and national power, so it will proceed to impose tough penalties for verifying the facts."

Mr Morales has asked the Public Prosecutor to initiate the appropriate investigation to check if the behaviour is criminal, reports the Bolivarian Information Agency.

"In the case that accusations of killing chicks are verified, the Attorney shall prosecute the producer under the crime of destruction of daily supply products,” announced Mr Morales. “This is punishable with imprisonment for 1-3 years. In addition there is the crime of causing shortages of food and medicine to the detriment of public health, which will imprisonment of 1-10 years.”