Interception of freights. As a result, a part of excisable goods that are transported

by transit is “sunk” at Russian territory and doesn’t reach customs houses of

destination. The use of such a way of tax evasion as import of goods in the guise of

a property liable to an obligation of returning it back (exhibitions, completing

articles, etc.) is becoming wider.

To prevent smuggling modern methods and techniques have been developed

that help customs officers examine the inside of the luggage and cargo. TV-

cameras and monitors are installed everywhere at the customs house. They are able

to detect everything, even if it has been concealed in the very secret corner.

Customs men know from experience the exact places of concealment of goods. It

may be a double bottom or cover of a suitcase, a hollowed book, an inside pocket,

a tooth-paste tube, a stick: even toys and dolls can be used for that.

Fight against smuggling of stolen or illegally acquired cars, counteraction to

smuggling of cultural values, illegal traffic of narcotics and “sinking” of goods –

these are the main issues for Customs Service activity.

(1600 symbols)

9.2.1 Give the English equivalents of the following collocations:

широко практикуется, изменять виды деятельности, культурные

ценности, нелегальный провоз наркотических средств, достичь таможенного

пункта, жить в условиях прозрачности границ, прибегать (к чему-либо),

средства борьбы.

9.3 Newspaper Stories

9.3.1 When you read a newspaper you never want to read all the articles and

stories. Usually you check the headlines and just choose to read those articles

which look interesting. Look at these three newspaper headlines:

SARS Measures At Customs

Customs Bust Smuggling Soviet Coins and Medals

Customs Foils Smuggling of 80,000 Cigarettes Packs

Which headlines do you think will have stories of interest to you?

9.3.2 Look at the following list of words. They all come from the stories that

go with the headlines. Which words do you think go with which headline? Why?

cultural value passenger (n) arrival (n) require(v) detain(v)

inscription (n) confiscate (v) brand (n) order(n) seize (v)

SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrom)

9.3.3 Choose one headline only and read the story for the headline you’ve

chosen:

Text 1

Primorye customs officers detained a Chinese man on Tuesday who tried to

smuggle out Soviet coins and medals with cultural value, the customs authorities

said. The 24-year-old Yan Khan Si, returning from a business trip, carried three

medals with the inscription "Veteran of Labor," one dedicated to the 70th

anniversary of the Armed Forces of the USSR, a World War Two order and nine

Soviet coins dating back to 1922 and 1957. He said that he intended them for his

collection in his Harbin homers.

Text 2

The Federal Government is planning to introduce new customs measures for

all passengers entering Australia to help identify people who may have been

exposed to the SARS virus. As part of the immigration process, plane or sea

arrivals already fill out an incoming passenger card (IPC), which requires personal