Introduction to Smuggling

There are two schools of thought on the rights and wrongs of smuggling, and two strikingly different definitions of a smuggler. Samuel Johnson described him as a wretch who, in defiance of justice and the laws, imports or exports goods either contraband or without payment of the Customs.

Whereas Adam Smith, the eighteenth century economist and advocate of free trade, was more generous: “The smuggler”, he wrote, “is a person who, though no doubt blamable for violating the laws of his country, is frequently incapable of violating those of natural justice, and would have been in every respect an excellent citizen had not the laws of his country made that a crime which nature never meant to be so.”

(From the book “Dorset Smugglers” by Roger Guttridge)

Exercise 11. Render the text below.

Text 3 Smugglers in Cornwall

It is difficult to separate the myth from the reality with smugglers. Were they free traders, organized crime, villains or local heroes?

Cornwall was suitable for smuggling because it had a long rocky, uninhabited coast, with few revenue men to patrol it. The goods smuggled included tea, brandy, gin, rum and tobacco. Following numerous increases in tea tax, tea could be bought in Europe for 1/6^th of the price in Britain, while French brandy was only 1/5^th of the price.

Initially, smuggling took place fairly openly with cargoes landed directly on the shore.

Smuggling boomed until the end of the 18^th century. However from around 1800 the revenue men became more organized and proactive. Smuggled goods had to be dropped off in remote coves, and picked up again when the coast was clear. Tunnels and passages were dug out of the rocks to expedite movement.

The risks involved in smuggling were high.

Exercise 12. Read Text 4 and say what bizarre goods (странные, необычные товары) are the objects of smuggling these days. Compare these cases with the ones above.

Text 4 Drug Smuggling Submarines

1. It seems drug smugglers are always coming up with new and innovative ways to get their drugs onto U.S streets. Well, here’s the latest, it’s a drug smuggling submarine.

2. In 2006 and 2007 a new method of smuggling emerged, surface skimming, semi-submersible, home-made submarines were captured from Thailand to Spain and further to Colombia. In 2008 the number detected has already reached the 2007 count. This craft often had sophisticated electronics for evading capture.

3. Security at an airport in Stockholm watched a woman continually adjusting her top until they decided to investigate. As it happens, she had filled her bra with 65 snakes and also managed to find room for 7 lizards under her shirt as well. Officials claim they noticed “something unusual” about her chest.

4. Surprisingly, next to drugs, animal smuggling is one of the biggest draws for people trying to pull one over on airport security. Some people are just hardcore nature lovers or hard up for cash.

A 23-year-old Australian was stopped coming into the country from Dubai when it was found he had a package of eggs on him, which was a little odd and certainly against the rules. A further search revealed a money belt around his waist full of seeds. Likely at this point someone raised an eyebrow and decided to investigate further. What they found was that, under his pants, he was wearing tights with a pigeon jammed in each leg.

5. Some smugglers are really dedicated to what they do and go that extra mile to commit their crimes.

A Chilean man on his way to Barcelona aroused some suspicion from security personnel who took a keen interest in the cast on his broken leg. As it turned out, some silly doctor had forgotten to use plaster and actually made the cast out of cocaine instead. The man actually did have a broken leg, one that officials are fairly certain he broke on purpose, just to have the cocaine cast put on. The man has true love for the game.

Exercise 13. Give the English equivalents to the following:

новый способ контрабанды; самодельные подводные лодки; плавное движение (скольжение); погруженный в воду наполовину; судно; сложное электронное оборудование; поправлять топ; контрабанда животных; приманка, соблазн; ‘протащить’ через систему безопасности аэропорта; ‘любители’ природы; нуждаться, не иметь средств (наличных); брюки; обыск (досмотр); пояс с деньгами (монетами) вокруг талии; поднять бровь от изумления; продолжить обыск (расследование); совершить преступление; возбудить подозрение; креативный / творческий; сломанная нога в гипсе; использовать кокаин вместо гипса.