Einjähriges Berufskolleg Englisch |
Aufgabe 1 |
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Hauptprüfung 1996 |
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| AUFGABE | ||
| A TIDE OF ECSTASY FROM HOLLAND | Zeile | |
| Fears
over the huge influx of ecstasy into the clubs and discotheques of Britain have prompted a study of the drug by Europol. Although covering all the European Community, it will focus on Holland, which is rapidly becoming the ecstasy-producing capital of Europe with kitchens, caravans and even barns used by an army of amateur Dutch chemists to make tonnes of potentially deadly synthetic drugs. |
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is easy to produce these drugs, and the amount of money to be made is enormous because demand is rising so fast. You don't need anything more complicated than a school chemistry kit. There are probably two or three real experts with degrees in chemistry who worked out how to make the drug and they have taught other people. |
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| While
drugs such as cocaine and heroin are traditionally the field of highly organized international criminal groups, ecstasy is still mainly produced an a small scale by individuals or tightly-knit groups that are difficult for police to infiltrate. One ecstasy producer says the way to avoid detection is to keep on the move. "We try to complete production within two weeks," he told a Dutch newspaper. "During that period the amount of energy we use goes up dramatically, but it takes time before it gets noticed. By then we have gone." |
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| The
threat of a prison sentence has done little to keep people from producing drugs. One of these criminals, convicted in 1992 for smuggling ecstasy to Britain, has yet to serve his 1 ½ year sentence in Holland. Under the country's legislation, he is at liberty until the prison invites him to serve his sentence. "He is not going to flee the country because he has a family here," his lawyer said. "But, of course, in the meantime he is back producing ecstasy." |
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| Adapted from: The Sunday Times, January 14, 1996 | ||
