TEXT 1 NORTH-WESTERN CUSTOMS

Russia's Customs Service is a very effective organization. In the past six years the North-Western Customs Administration has established an optimal Customs infrastructure. The Head of the North-Western Customs Administration of the Russian Federation has pointed out: "We strive to promote and facilitate the economic development of the region through its international trade connections".

A large amount of freight crosses the border on trains. Customs registration is carried out at 10 railway stations. The largest train-handling Customs offices are Vyborgskaya (25% of total volume) and Sebezhskaya (14%). To better coordinate its activities the Administration has signed an agreement to cooperate with the Oktyabrskaya Railway. "As part of the agreement we will participate with the Railway in the construction of new Customs points. Our organization has had experience in such projects - we have carried out the federal government's programme to set up Customs checkpoints at the borders with the Baltic states. In order to facilitate the flow of freight, to have effective Customs control, and to reduce the amount of lost freight, we have introduced up-to-date Customs technology. In co-operation with Finnish Customs we will transmit and receive preliminary electronic information in order to speed up the Customs process. We have access to fibre optics communications, which were introduced as part of the "Russian Customs in the 21st Century" project. We have complete information about freight, its transfer and its storage."

St. Petersburg has become one of the first cities in Russia with a unified network of freight transport services. Clients are now able to have their freight registered, expedited and passed through Customs. All they have to do is to fax their order. The all-embracing service also takes care of everything between the train and warehouse.

Individuals are not subject to any Customs duties if the value of the items they are bringing with them doesn't exceed 200 dollars (US). Permanent residents of the Russian Federation, who travel abroad and spend over 6 uninterrupted months in a foreign country, are permitted to bring in goods valued up to 5,000 dollars. Also exempt from Customs duties are individuals who temporarily enter or leave the country with goods not intended for productive or commercial purposes - items, that is, which are intended for their personal use.

CHECK WORK

Exercise 1. Find the meaning of the underlined words in the dictionary.

Exercise 2. According to the text, are the following statements true or false? If they are false, give the correct statement.

1. A large amount of freight crosses the border on trains.

2. New Customs checkpoints have been set up at the borders with the Baltic States.

3. The North- Western Customs Administration works in coordination with Finnish Customs.

4. Unfortunately the information about freight, its transfer and its storage is not complete.

5. St. Petersburg has a unified network of freight transport services.

6. The all-embracing service takes care of everything between the train and warehouse.

7. Individuals are not subject to Customs duties if the value of the items they are bringing with them doesn't exceed 300 dollars (US).

8. All permanent residents of the Russian Federation are permitted to bring in goods valued up to 5, 000 dollars (US).

Exercise 3. Look through the text again to answer the following questions.

1. What proves that the North-Western Customs Administration will now introduce changes?

2. What has been done to better coordinate the activity of the largest train-handling Customs offices?

3. Why is the introduction of up-to-date Customs technology so important?

4. What services have been introduced in St. Petersburg?

5. When are individuals not subject to any Customs duties?

6. Who is permitted to bring in goods valued up to 5,000 dollars (US)?

Exercise 4. Read the text and present the achievements of the North-Western Customs Administration in 6 -7 sentences.

TEXT 2 EFFECTIVE PASSENGER AND BAGGAGE CONTROL

In dealing with any passenger, the single most important point to establish is "Why has this passenger travelled?" You should:

• Establish reasons for travel.

• Examine passport to ascertain previous and current journeys from drug production or suspect areas. If the passenger is a frequent traveller establish reasons for frequency of travel.

• Examine ticket to ascertain method of payment and whether ticket matches the passenger's journey. (Remember: late booked or cash tickets are often used by smugglers.)

All the above should be carried out for all passengers stopped to satisfy you as to their reasons for travelling. Your basic questions:

- Is this all your baggage? Did you pack it yourself?

- Do you know what the baggage contains?

- Are you carrying any items for anyone else? Are you travelling alone?

- Do you know what the Customs allowances are? (Check that the passenger has correct baggage reclaim tags.)

Practical examinations:

Passenger travelling on business:

• Examine any documents in order to verily whether the passenger is engaged in legitimate business. Make sure that documents relate to up-to-date transactions.

Visitors or residents returning from holidays:

• Look for gifts, clothing, souvenirs and the usual items you would normally expect to find with this type of passenger. These will link passengers to the baggage and reasons for travel. (Be suspicious of passengers arriving with only light baggage containing few, if any, articles of personal nature.)

All passengers:

• Always check baggage for concealments,

• Regularly examine articles within the baggage by X-ray and/or opening them (e.g. tinned goods, toiletries, cigarette cartons, etc.). Don't overlook the commonplace.

Points to remember prior to baggage examination:

Adopt a positive approach. You must believe that if there are goods concealed, you will find them.

• You are a representative of this department and in the public eye. At all times, act with courtesy and diplomacy. Be firm, but fair and confident.

• Do not be drawn into arguments. Remain calm however provoked.

• Do not hesitate to seek assistance or advice from colleagues.

Experience has proved that goods, and in particular drugs, can be concealed within baggage and its contents in many different ways. Remember the basic concept that wherever there is a space there can be a concealment.

Helpful hints:

The examination of baggage can be separated into two clearly defined areas; the contents and container. Remove the contents carefully and systematically. Examine individual items as necessary during this process. Separate any items worthy of closer attention and place out of the passenger's reach. To facilitate the examination of certain articles, each baggage station should

have a comprehensive selection of tools and other equipment including an X-ray machine. You should make full use of the equipment at your disposal. When using tools to examine contents, exercise care to minimize damage. If it is necessary to damage an article, try to establish its value prior to examination.

Check work

Exercise 1. Make up your own vocabulary.

Exercise 2. Answer the following questions:

1. What is the most important point in dealing with a passenger?

2. What questions are supposed to be asked by a Customs officer?

3. Why is it important to verify whether a passenger is engaged in legitimate business?

4. Why should a Customs officer be suspicious if a passenger returning from holidays has only light baggage?

5. What points are of major importance prior to baggage examination?

6. What can make the examination of baggage more successful?

7. What technical equipment is necessary for a better examination?

8. What precautions should be taken when using tools to examine contents?

Exercise 3. Scan the text and write down what a Customs officer should do (be) and should not.

Exercise 4. Read the text again and make a short review (10-12 sentences) on how to make passenger and baggage control effective.

TEXT 3 X-RAY MACHINE

For any Customs officer that has ever searched a vehicle, Cargosearch is a dream come true. It is a giant X-ray machine that can examine an entire vehicle.

Cargosearch is proving to be a very valuable tool in the detection of narcotics. In its first three months of operation, it has been credited with no less than ten drug seizures, including one in which $ 16 million worth of cocaine and marijuana were found in the steel frames of a 40 foot flatbed trailer as well as the tires.

Cargosearch is housed in an equipment building with an adjacent X-ray bay at vehicles are taken through by means of a transport mechanism.

The transport lifts the front of the vehicle about two inches off the cement and carries it through the bay, stopping automatically at the end of the scan. It can rapidly scan and clear a truck much more efficiently than hand searching, utilizing fewer inspectors per search. When a suspect area is found, conventional means including the canine enforcement officer teams and inspectors armed with density meters, laser range finders, fiberoptic scopes and dielectrometers are used to further detect any contraband. After that comes the hard work of inspectors with metal saws, tire breakdown machines and cutting torches.

1. Underline all the Customs tools mentioned in the text.

2. Describe to your classmates one of the tools mentioned in the text without giving its name. Let your partner guess which tool you mean.

3. Match the words on the left (a-j) with their Russian translations on the right (1-10).

a) Gas Proof Torch b) Heavy duty pliers c) Wire snips d) Shirting spanner e) Screw driver f) Gimlet holesaw g) Rivet gun and rivets h) Tuck stick i) Steel wire j) Jimmy

Тяжелые плоскогубцы Разводной ключ Буравчик Щуп Заклепочный молоток и набор заклепок Ломик «фомка» Стальная проволока Ножницы для проволоки Газобезопасный фонарь Отвертка