BELMOPAN, Belize (CMC) — The Belize government on Monday warned “unscrupulous shopkeepers and hardware store owners” against engaging in price gouging as citizens prepare themselves for the passage of Hurricane Beryl.

The Office of the Prime Minister, through the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) said it remains vigilant and prepared as Hurricane Beryl poses a potential threat to Belize.

“We are also aware of a groundswell panic, leading to a rush on grocery stores and other stores selling plywood and other materials. That has led to unscrupulous shopkeepers and hardware store owners raising the prices of their goods. We appeal to and caution the business sector, there is never a time to gouge our Belizean public, and certainly not in the face of what may be a devastating natural disaster,” the government warned.

Officials went on to share that there will be repercussions for anyone found increasing the prices of certain necessities as the storm approaches.

The Miami-based National Hurricane Center (NHC) said that the storm, packing winds of 150 miles per hour (mph) had made landfall in the Grenadine island of Carriacou. The NHC said that Beryl is expected to move quickly westward to west-northwestward during the next few days.

“On the forecast track, the center of Beryl is currently moving across the southern Windward Islands and will move across the southeastern and central Caribbean Sea late Monday through Wednesday.”