How to Spot a Drug Mule

Here are eight signs that may tip authorities off to a drug mule masquerading (маскироваться, притворяться) in their presence.

§ The drug mule may wear inappropriate clothes for the flight’s time of day.

§ He may be dressed in casual or colourful clothes, while the vast majority of the people on the 3 p.m. flight are dressed for business.

§ He may have little or no luggage for a supposed ‘vacation’ or long visit. How are you going to sun in Bali with nothing more than a satchel (сумка для книг)?

§ He takes frequent trips to the bathroom, airport gift shops and phone banks.

§ The drug mule may be trying to kill time before meeting up with his/her handler, or may be uncomfortable from the large quantity of drugs he/she swallowed.

§ He is nervous, shifty-eyed or sweats profusely.

§ He abstains from eating plane food on a long trip. The drug mule carrying around drugs in his/her stomach can’t ingest any food for fear of excreting the goods too early.

§ He gets off the plane first or last. The drug mule may be eager to get off before everyone else, or equally as eager to stay behind to avoid attention.

Exercise 11. Look at the map and name the countries where drug mules can be found more often.

Exercise 12. Read Text 4 and find out information about the widespread practice of using drug mules to carry illicit substances across borders.

Text 4*

Though drug mules can be found in every part of the world, the following countries have specifically dealt with a high number of drug mules coming to and from with drugs in their stomachs, strapped to their bodies, hidden in their suitcases and clothing:

United Kingdom

Many drug mules are promised big sums of money and a better life for their children. In 2005, it was estimated that foreign women make up 18% of the UK prison population, and 60% of the offences are drug-related.

Canada

News reports reveal similar drug activity in Canada as in many other countries. In January 2008, Ottawa took measures to prevent drug trafficking within the country, specifically by cracking down on individuals bringing babies or young children.

United States

Many drug mules find themselves bound for the United States, where drugs they have swallowed or strapped to their bodies are worth more than many other places around the world (as much as $350,000 in some cases). The authorities have found that drug mules take drastic measures to conceal drugs. In 2002, authorities at New York’s JFK Airport found drugs when they intercepted a 5-year-old girl travelling by herself from Colombia carrying a large amount of heroin in her suitcase.

Jamaica

UK officials discovered that more than 10% of people travelling from Jamaica to the UK were drug mules. These mules, often women, were the main providers for their parents and numerous children in Jamaica.

Colombia

Colombia has struggled to overcome the perils of drug trafficking throughout the years. Colombian drug mules die in the process of carrying drugs.

Peru

According to a 2007 UN report on drugs, cocaine production in Peru has been steadily rising over the past five years. Many of drug mules are offered more money than they’ve ever had in their lives previously. Approximately 75% were unemployed.

Bali, Indonesia

A group of nine Australian citizens found themselves facing life prison sentences – and even the death penalty – when they were caught trying to smuggle drugs out of Indonesia and into Australia. Ranging in age from 18 to 28, the ‘Bali Nine’ as they came to be called, played various parts in a heroin scheme. Upon arrest, four members of the group had more than 18lbs. of heroin strapped to their bodies. After multiple court trials and appeals, the group faces sentences of varying degrees, the least of which is 20 years in prison.

Exercise 13. Review Text 4. Add what you know of the given problems from the previous texts.

Exercise 14. Study the following information and comment on it:

‘Swallower’ is defined in the “Public Administration Dictionary” (European Union) as “Drugs courier who has swallowed small packages of drugs”.

Exercise 15. Translate the Russian words in the text below into English.

Choose from:

profit; cocaine; trip; drug lord; law enforcement bodies; in exchange for money; hollow pellets; drugs; intent; gastrointestinal tract; heroin; favours; multilayered condoms; border; swallower; term; body cavities; drug dealer.

Text 5