More than 100 traders in 27 Moldovan settlements were fined 600 to 1 000 lei after the Interior Ministry's Fraud Investigation Division identified 173 cases of groundless rises in the prices of basic products at several national markets. The inspection was carried out between January 25 and February 4, Info-Prim Neo reports, quoting the Interior Ministry's press office. The police identified eight cases of rises in the price of sugar (by about 11%), rice (by about 12%), vegetal oil (by about 2%) and buckwheat (by about 9%) at markets in the municipality of Chisinau. In the suburbs of Chisinau, in Bubuieci, Gratiesti, Durlesti, Bacioi, Stauceni and Hulboaca communes, there were discovered 22 cases of rises in the price of sugar (by about 1-2%), rice (by about 4%) and buckwheat (by about 3%). In other districts of the country, most of the irregularities were identified in Taraclia district - rises of about 20% in the price of pasta and approximately 28% in the price of cracked wheat, Cahul district - 31 cases of excessive increases in the prices of dairy products and pasta, and in Briceni district, where the sugar price was increased by over 25%. The largest number of irregularities were discovered in small towns and villages. The inspections continue.