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(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
Bogota
15 February 2008
Colombian and American officials say nearly half of the cocaine1 produced in Colombia is shipped through Venezuela and mostly goes to Europe. Producer Zulima Palacio traveled to Colombia to examine the drug trade. Barry Wood narrates2 the story.
Colombian and U.S. officials say Colombia's multi-billion dollar drug trade is finding a new and easier path through Venezuela.
Perry Holloway is the director of the Narcotics3 Affairs Section at the U.S. Embassy in Colombia. He says, "We have noticed a trend in recent years of the actual trans-shipment of cocaine -- after it is processed -- going over Venezuela's air space. There has been a reduction of about 70 percent in the illegal flights over Colombia in the last four years and most of that is shifted to Venezuela," Halloway said.
The U.S. and Colombia have worked together for years in the fight against illegal drugs in Colombia, targeting remote airstrips, eradicating4 isolated5 coca fields and intercepting6 clandestine7 drug shipments.
Eastern Colombia shares a long border with Venezuela. Most of the area is sparsely8 inhabited jungle region, where police have uncovered numerous illicit9 drug labs and elements of the guerrilla group known as FARC [Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia].
The head of Colombia's anti-narcotics police says 90 percent of FARC's financial resources comes from the production of illicit drugs. General Alvaro Caro Menendes says, "It is very easy for the drug dealers10 to produce the cocaine and move it to Venezuela, so they can send it through Africa in a new market for Europe. At this moment all the drug produced in the east of Colombia goes out through Venezuela. We believe it is nearly 40 percent of all the drug."
The Colombian and U.S. alliance has spent $5 billion in the past five years to combat illegal drugs. Authorities from both governments say they have seen a 30 percent reduction in drug production in the past few years.
Holloway says it is still worth about $50 billion a year. "If you look at how much profit you make at an ounce [28.35 grams] of this substance, there is probably nothing more profitable in the world."
Holloway says that 90 percent of the cocaine and most of the heroine found in the U.S. comes from Colombia. General Caro admits as much, but he says Colombia is not entirely11 to blame. "We are the drug producers. But it is produced and sold because there is a great population of consumers," he said.
General Caro calls Colombia's drug trade his country's worst nightmare. He says, without it, Colombia would be a nation at peace and enjoy greater prosperity and development.
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1
cocaine
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n.可卡因,古柯碱(用作局部麻醉剂) | |
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2
narrates
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v.故事( narrate的第三人称单数 ) | |
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3
narcotics
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n.麻醉药( narcotic的名词复数 );毒品;毒 | |
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4
eradicating
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摧毁,完全根除( eradicate的现在分词 ) | |
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5
isolated
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adj.与世隔绝的 | |
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6
intercepting
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截取(技术),截接 | |
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7
clandestine
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adj.秘密的,暗中从事的 | |
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8
sparsely
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adv.稀疏地;稀少地;不足地;贫乏地 | |
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9
illicit
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adj.非法的,禁止的,不正当的 | |
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10
dealers
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n.商人( dealer的名词复数 );贩毒者;毒品贩子;发牌者 | |
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11
entirely
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ad.全部地,完整地;完全地,彻底地 | |
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