Unit 10

SMUGGLING

Text 1

Task 1. Read and translate the text.

One of the main duties of the Customs Service is to prevent the traffic of smuggling. Smuggled goods can enter the country together with passengers, cargo or with the means of conveyance.

Smuggling is the unlawful bringing in or taking out of the country of prohibited, restricted or dutiable articles. Sometimes the articles are misrepresented or their value is stated false in order to evade paying duties and taxes. Such actions are also considered illegal. Storage or sale of smuggled articles on the territory of the country is forbidden by law.

There are other customs violations connected with smuggling: money laundering, commercial fraud, corruption, copyright and trademark infringements, etc.

The most common objects of smuggling are: currency, drugs, jewelry, precious metals and stones, antiques, arms and ammunition, exotic animals, counterfeit goods, intellectual property, and people.

Smugglers use different places of concealment, for example, inside pockets, double bottoms and sides of bags, toys, souvenirs, books, shoe heels, belts. Sometimes smugglers swallow prohibited articles and carry them inside the body. Means of transport also have many hollow places and inaccessible or hard to reach areas.

Since methods of smuggling are becoming more and more sophisticated the Customs has to develop new methods of detecting cases of contraband. At numerous ports of entry customs officers exercise inspections of passengers, cargo and means of conveyance. In some cases a Personal Search may be carried out. Nowadays they use such high-tech equipment as X-ray screening systems, metal detectors, flexible fiber-scopes, density meters, remote operated cameras, mirror kits etc. Drug detector dogs are of much help in the fight against the traffic of drugs and explosives. Some countries are known to use biometric scanning technology to check criminal record database.

A person who is found guilty of smuggling may be punished by a fine or taken to court. Smuggled goods are c onfiscated and turned into Federal property. In some countries drug trafficking entails death penalty.

There is no class distinction between smugglers. They have included people of different ages, professions and social positions.