Text 5 Balloon Swallower

A balloon глотатель is an individual who crosses a граница with the намерение to smuggle наркотики contained in his or her желудочно-кишечный тракт or other body cavities.

This термин is used in American правоохранительные органы for people crossing the United States-Mexico border. Other countries have their own names.

A balloon swallower typically fills tiny balloons, often made with многослойные резиновые мешочки or more sophisticated полые шарики, with small quantities of a drug, usually героин or кокаин.

These balloons may be swallowed, but may also be hidden in other полости тела.

Then a swallower attempts to cross international borders, excrete the balloons, and then sell the drugs for извлечение выгоды. It is far more common for the swallower to be making the поездка for a наркобарон or наркодилер. Swallowers are often impoverished and agree to transport the drugs в обмен на деньги or other блага.

Exercise 16. Answer the following questions:

1. What is the term ‘swallower’ used for?

2. Where do swallowers hide drugs?

3. What makes swallowers carry drugs in cavities of their bodies?

4. Do you think that swallowers earn much money?

Talking Points

Exercise 17. Present your views on the following:

• Types of concealment are as varied as the goods or the containers used to transport them.

• The practice of using drug mules to carry illicit substances across borders is widely spread.

Focus on Grammar

Exercise 18. Fill in the gaps.

a) can/could

1. Leonardo da Vinci was a student in Florence. He ____ draw, design buildings and write music.

2. You ____ see the Mona Lisa in the Louvre in Paris.

3. I lost my keys yesterday and I ____ (not) get into my flat.

4. I ____ (not) go out because I have a lot of homework.

5. She ____ speak English when she was ten.

b) must/have to

1. I ____ water the plants.

2. I’m very tired, I ____ go to bed.

3. You are a small boy; you ____ go to bed early.

4. Dad is working, you ____ be quiet.

5. You ____ come in unless you wipe your feet.

6. Oh, you ____ worry, Mum. My feet are clean.

7. You ____ (not) park your car here. There is a sign.

8. I ____ do my homework every day.

9. He ____ (not) do the shopping yesterday.

c) must/mustn’t/needn’t

1. You ____ fight.

2. She ____ wash the dishes.

3. You ____ tell anyone. It’s a secret.

4. Your shoes are dirty. You ____ clean them.

5. You ____ let the dog sleep in your bed.

6. You ____ feed the cat. It isn’t hungry.

7. They ____ go out today. They ____ stay in bed.

8. We ____ buy any eggs. We have a lot.

9. You ____ feed the animals at the Zoo.

10. You ____ eat it if you don’t like it.

11. She ____ be late for work.

12. You ____tidy your room.

Exercise 19. Correct the mistakes.

1. You don’t can go to the party.

2. Where do you must be?

3. He can play chess when he was five.

4. Can I come in?

5. Paul can to play football.

6. You don’t must smoke here.

7. Can you help me? No, I can.

8. Can his brother speaks French?

9. She mays be here.

10. He not must be late.

Exercise 20. Fill in the gaps with to have to or must.

1. You really ____ work harder, if you want to pass that exam.

2. Last night Dan suddenly became ill. He ____ to call the doctor.

3. I’m afraid I can’t come tomorrow. I ____ work late.

4. When you come to London again you ____ come and see me.

5. He can’t repair the car himself. He ____ take it to the garage.

Exercise 21. Choose the correct tense forms of the verbs in brackets.

1. I (learn) English for seven years now.

2. Last year I (not / work) hard enough for English, that’s why my marks (not / be) good.

3. During my last summer holidays, my parents (send) me on a language course to Great Britain.

4. Before I (go) to London, I (not / enjoy) learning English.

5. But while I (do) the language course, I (meet) lots of young people from all over the world.

6. Now I (have) much more fun learning English than I (have) before the course.

7. At the moment I (revise) English grammar.

8. If I (pass) my exams successfully, I (be) glad.

9. I (go) abroad three times last year.

For more information turn to Grammar reference section.

Unit 5.4 Canine Enforcement