50,000 Poles punished for black market deals

Polish authorities have punished nearly 50,000 people for black market dealing this year in a campaign to stop people from profiting from the country's economic crisis, the official PAP news agency reported.

The martial law rulers have pledged to stamp out speculation by officials and private businessmen profiting from hoarding or price fixing when supplies and luxuries are hard to come by. Punishments can include confiscations, fines, and sometimes imprisonment.