3. Customs Inspection

C. 0.: You're seamen, aren't you? Will you please open your suitcases?

Santos; OK. There you go.

C. 0.: Are you carrying any liquor or cigarettes?

Cruz: I have two cartons of cigarettes.

C. 0.: May I see them?

Cruz: (Taking one carton from his carry-on and the other from his suitcase) Here they are.

C. 0.: (Carefully inspecting them for concealed items) Thank you. That's OK.. May I check the contents of your suitcase?

Santos; No problem. Go right ahead.

C. 0.: (Looking at each item one by one) What's this?

Santos: It's some medicine 1 bought in the Philippines.

C. 0.: Let me have a look inside. (Taking out some packages) What's this medicine for?

Santos: It's for the stomach.

C. 0.: OK. Thank you. Please go ahead. Next, please.

Santos: He really took his time. I was starting to lose my patience!

Cruz: You said it! I'd heard that they were very strict with drugs. 1 hear there's a lot of

smuggling from Southeast Asian countries. That's why they are so thorough.

C. 0.: Customs Officer a public servant working at Customs

liquor: a strong alcoholic drink, alcoholic drinks/beverages

cany-on: a piece of luggage a passenger is allowed to take inside an airplane; carry-on-board luggage

concealed items: hidden objects -> to conceal = to hide, to obstruct from view

Go right ahead.: continue -> "Feel free to do what you want."

medicine: medication, pharmaceutical drugs, medicinal drugs

lose my patience: to become angry (after waiting for a long time in this case)

You said it!: Exactly! You can say that again! Yes, I agree.

•strict: following the rules very closely. Enforcing the law

drugs: illegal chemical substances, narcotics

smuggling: carrying something into or out of a country illegally (against the law). -> smuggle

thorough: complete, full

4. Meeting with an Agent: Situation (1) Agent Found Easily

Santos: (At Narita Airport's Arrival Lobby) Wow! There are so many people! Where's Mr.

Yamada, our agent? Cruz: He must be waiting for us, holding a placard with our names on it. Look! This

might be him. Santos: Excuse me. Are you Mr. Yamada from International Marine? We're Cruz and

Santos from the Philippines. We're supposed to board The Persian Adventure. Yamada: Oh, hello, Mr. Cmz and Mr. Santos. Welcome to Japan. My name is Yamada, and

I work for International Marine.

Cruz: Nice to meet you, Mr. Yamada. My name is Conrad Cruz, Third Mate.

Santos: Nice to meet you. My name is Manuel Santos. I'm Third Engineer.

Yamada: How was your trip?

Cruz: It was great! We saw Mt. Fuji from the plane. It was beautiful.

Yamada: I'm glad to hear that. Did you have any problems with Customs?

Santos: No, we didn't, but we were searched quite thoroughly.

Yamada: That's understandable. Customs officers are now very strict. Drug smuggling from

Southeast Asia has been increasing. Cruz: They looked through our luggage. Is it that easy to find drugs? Yamada: According to the news, they often find drugs that way. There is a minibus waiting

for us, so let's get going.

placard: a sign. (a piece of card with people's names written on it)

Third Mate: a member of a ship's crew who helps to steer the ship

Third Engineer: a member of a ship's crew who works in the ship's Engine Room

...we were searched: A customs official examined us and our suitcases.

luggage: suitcases, trunks, etc. usually carried for traveling, large bags containing clothes

according to.. : from what I've heard or read...

... let's get going: ... let's go, let's move