Italian Police Crack Down on Organized Crime 

Vocabulary 

Direction: Read each word and let the student repeat it.
seize
[siːz] (verb)
– to take illegal or stolen goods away from somebody
ex.The police has seized stolen goods worth over $10 million during the raid.

crackdown
[krækdaʊn] (noun)
– severe action taken to restrict the activities of criminals or of people opposed to the government or somebody in authority
ex.The government has started a crackdown on corruption.

hail
[heɪl] (verb)
– to describe somebody/something as being very good or special, especially in newspapers, etc.
ex.Albert Einstein is hailed as one of the most important scientists of all time.

implant
[ɪmˈplænt] (verb)
– to fix an idea, attitude, etc. firmly in somebody’s mind
ex.Honor is a concept deeply implanted in the army ranks.

rooted
[ruːtɪd] (adjective)
– developing from or being strongly influenced by something; fixed in one place; not moving or changing
ex.Religion is deeply-rooted in Middle Eastern cultures.

Article 

Direction: Read each paragraph and let the student repeat it.

Italian Police Crack Down on Organized Crime

Italian police arrested more than 160 alleged members of a mafia group and seized millions of dollars in what was considered a major crackdown on organized crime.

Speaking to reporters in Bologna, Italy’s anti-mafia chief prosecutor Franco Roberti hailed the operation as an “historic and unprecedented” blow for the group suspected for much of Europe’s cocaine trade.

“This is a deeply implanted and very dangerous criminal organization,” he said about ‘Ndrangheta,’ an organized crime clan from Calabria in southern Italy. Authorities say the group has become deeply rooted in the business community in the rich northern region of the country.

With wealth in the billions of dollars from cocaine trading, ‘Ndrangheta has become the most powerful crime syndicate in Italy, surpassing Sicily’s Cosa Nostra and Naples’ Camorra.

Last week, Italian police arrested about 30 people in Rome in connection with the group. Dozens of others were detained in and around Milan in November.

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Questions 

Direction: Ask the students the questions, and give the answers.

1How many people has the Italian police arrested in this latest crackdown?

160.

2Where is the criminal group based?

It is “an organized crime clan from Calabria in southern Italy.”

3Which are the other two most powerful crime syndicates in Italy?

“Sicily’s Cosa Nostra and Naples’ Camorra.”

4In which Italian cities did police previously arrest members of this organization?

“Last week, Italian police arrested about 30 people in Rome in connection with the group. Dozens of others were detained in and around Milan in November.”

Discussion

Direction: Discuss the topics.

1What do you know about the Italian Mafia?

Follow-up question1: Why is it important to destroy these organizations?
Follow-up question2: Do you think they will ever be eliminated? Why or why not?
Follow-up question3: Can you think of some famous organized crime bosses in history?

2Is there an organized crime problem in your country?

Follow-up question1: Are there any places you are afraid to visit because of the high crime rate?
Follow-up question2: Is there a drug problem in your country?
Follow-up question3: How strict is gun control in your country?

3Do you feel that your country is safe?

Follow-up question1: Do you trust the police in your country? Why or why not?
Follow-up question2: Do you think that civilians should be allowed to own weapons? Why or why not?
Follow-up question3: Is there any moment when it is OK to break the law?

Quoted from

http://www.voanews.com/content/italian-police-crack-down-on-organized-crime/2617833.html