VOA常速英语2008年-African Desert Gas Smuggler Weighs Risks, Profi

By Phuong Tran
Ingkaka, Niger
10 April 2008
 

In countries bordering the Saharan desert, ethnic¹ nomad² Tuareg have turned their desert expertise³ into a money maker⁴ through tourism and smuggling⁵. Phuong Tran recently traveled with an Algerian gasoline smuggler⁶ and has this report from Ingkaka, Niger for VOA.

The 24-year-old Tuareg gas smuggler drives in the opposite direction of where he wants to go. He wants to leave false tracks in the sand to throw off any law enforcement that may follow him.

The smuggler does not want to be identified. After nearly 30 minutes of creating a deceptive⁷ trail, he continues to his real destination to meet his smuggler partner, Abdas Salam.

Throughout the Saharan region, smugglers and military patrols recognize each other’s tracks.

Salam and his driver both live in fear these trails will meet. "We are always scared of running into Algerian or Nigerien authorities," he says. "Or bandits who try to steal the gasoline. But we learn to live with this fear, to pay off the officials, and to drive faster than the bandits."

Salam says he spends about $50 per trip in bribes⁸ on his route from Algeria to Niger.

Salam sells 10 barrels to Nigerien rebels fighting against the government for more control in northern Niger.

Niger's President Mamadou Tandja has said the rebels are trying to control the desert to get their share from smuggling operations like this one.

But Salam says he does not pay anything to the rebels. He says the rebels and farmers are his biggest customers in the Air Mountains.

He brings gasoline. Clients bring their own containers. But lately, he says it has been tougher because he has more competition from other smugglers.

Salam has smuggled⁹ for five years. He started as an assistant driver. Then, he says he invested $6,000 to buy his own truck. He hired an assistant driver. Salam makes the trip about four times a month, selling each barrel for about $300.

"I make good money,” Salam said. “I do not know what else I would do because as soon as I could walk and run, I herded¹⁰ camels. Then I became an assistant driver. And now, I have this. How else do I make my living in the desert?"

Ten barrels later, Salam is paid about $2,800, half of which goes to his boss in Algeria. After taking out his expenses, he says he makes about $1,000 a month.

He says it is not such a bad job -- if you can live with the fear.

1 ethnic   

adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的

参考例句：

• This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏，这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
• The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。

2 nomad   

n.游牧部落的人，流浪者，游牧民

参考例句：

• He was indeed a nomad of no nationality.他的确是个无国籍的游民。
• The nomad life is rough and hazardous.游牧生活艰苦又危险。

3 expertise   

n.专门知识(或技能等)，专长

参考例句：

• We were amazed at his expertise on the ski slopes.他斜坡滑雪的技能使我们赞叹不已。
• You really have the technical expertise in a new breakthrough.让你真正在专业技术上有一个全新的突破。

4 maker   

n.制造者，制造商

参考例句：

• He is a trouble maker，You must be distant with him.他是个捣蛋鬼，你不要跟他在一起。
• A cabinet maker must be a master craftsman.家具木工必须是技艺高超的手艺人。

5 smuggling   

n.走私

参考例句：

• Some claimed that the docker's union fronted for the smuggling ring.某些人声称码头工人工会是走私集团的掩护所。
• The evidence pointed to the existence of an international smuggling network.证据表明很可能有一个国际走私网络存在。

6 smuggler   

n.走私者

参考例句：

• The smuggler is in prison tonight, awaiting extradition to Britain. 这名走私犯今晚在监狱，等待引渡到英国。
• The smuggler was finally obliged to inform against his boss. 那个走私犯最后不得不告发他的首领。

7 deceptive   

adj.骗人的，造成假象的，靠不住的

参考例句：

• His appearance was deceptive.他的外表带有欺骗性。
• The storyline is deceptively simple.故事情节看似简单，其实不然。

8 bribes   

n.贿赂( bribe的名词复数 )；向（某人）行贿，贿赂v.贿赂( bribe的第三人称单数 )；向（某人）行贿，贿赂

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• corrupt officials accepting bribes 接受贿赂的贪官污吏

9 smuggled   

水货

参考例句：

• The customs officer confiscated the smuggled goods. 海关官员没收了走私品。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Those smuggled goods have been detained by the port office. 那些走私货物被港务局扣押了。 来自互联网

10 herded   

群集，纠结( herd的过去式和过去分词 )； 放牧； （使）向…移动

参考例句：

• He herded up his goats. 他把山羊赶拢在一起。
• They herded into the corner. 他们往角落里聚集。