Lesson 12 Not guilty

New Roman" size=4>Customs officers are not always strong in judgement. When you are going through the Green Channel and have nothing to declare, you are often made to feel guilty, for they may stop you for inspection. But a real smuggler, however,is never troubled by such feelings,even if he has five hundred gold watches hidden in his suitcase.

Recently, when I returned from abroad, a particularly officous young Customs officer clearly regarded me as a smuggler.

"Have you anything to declare?" He gazed at me and asked.

"No."I answered confidently.

"Could I open your suitcase?" He asked.

"Of course." I answered unwillingly.

Then he went through my case carefully. All the things were soon in a terrible mess. I got angry but i could do nothing.Suddenly, i saw the officer's face light up. He had found a bottle in my case and he pounced on it with delight.

"Perfume,en?" He said sarcasticaly,"Perfume is not exemp from import duty, you should have declared."

"But it is not perfume, it is hair gel." I explained rapidly.

But he was still sceptical about it, so I persuaded him to smell it.

As soon as he had opened the bottle, he was greeted by a funny smell. I eventrally made him believe that I was telling the truth.

A few minutes later, I was able to hurry away with precious chalk marks on my baggage.