Venezuela's crippling economic spiral is having a negative impact on an unlikely group in society: criminals, who are struggling to afford bullets, and unable to find things to steal as the country's wealth declines rapidly.
The Associated Press (AP) spoke with two gangsters in Petare, a notorious slum in the outskirts of Venezuela's capital, Caracas, who said they now struggle to make a living off muggings, a previously lucrative source of income.
While bullets are widely available on the black market, many muggers cannot afford the $1 price tag anymore, a criminal known as "Dog" told the news organization.
The average Venezuelan only earns $6.50 a month, according to the AP, and skyrocketing hyperinflation renders cash more worthless every day.
"A pistol used to cost one of these bills," Dog said as he crumbled up a 10 bolivar bill. "Now, this is nothing."
Another gangster, "El Negrito," who leads a gang called Crazy Boys, has found it increasingly hard to support his wife and daughter with assaults. Firing a bullet is a luxury now, he said.
"If you empty your clip, you're shooting off $15," he told the AP. "You lose your pistol or the police take it and you're throwing away $800."
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