Organized crimes

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In the 21^st century, organized crime has become a part of society and is also a force that undermines our society. In many ways, organized crime groups behave like business since, like business, they exist in order to make money. They buy and sell different goods (illegal goods, such as drugs or weapons) and also offer certain types of expertise and services (for example fraud, prostitution, or extortion). Organized crime groups are also always trying to increase their market share, just as legitimate business are; and they are also trying to eliminate the competition. Some groups are very specialized and operate in one field of activity only, for example heroin smuggling. However, most are involved in a range of different types of criminal activity.

Unlike legitimate businesses, organized crime groups are not limited by the law, nor by any moral, religious or humanistic scruples. They use violence and intimidation to achieve their purposes. Another characteristic of organized crime groups is the use of bribery and corruption. Their enemies are governments, law enforcement systems and criminal justice systems, so they use bribery in order to corrupt the legal system and escape prosecution.

Organized crime is often based on “protection rackets” where a racketeer forces a merchant to pay money by threatening him. These protection rackets are most common in the distribution of food, in the building trades, and in transport. By organizing themselves in groups, the racketeers get better results by widening their field of operation, setting up monopolies, and guarding against competition. Another form of organized crime has to do with gambling, horse- or dog-racing, illegal lotteries, and so on. There are legalized forms of gambling in many countries and in some states of the United States, but even in those places illegal gambling takes place. A narcotic trafficking, especially in the United States, is carried out by international groups of criminals and by local and regional groups working with international suppliers.

Work in pairs and answer the questions.

1. Make a list of criminal activities you associate with organized crime. Compare your list with another pair.

2. Why is it so difficult for law enforcers to combat organized crime? Make a list of reasons.

3. Give the definition of organized crime. Find three ways in which organized crime groups are like legitimate businesses.

4. What do you know about the Russian Mafia? Who do they have links with, and where?

Vocabulary and Speech Exercises

1. Complete the word-building table. You can find all the words in the text.

Noun	Verb	Adjective
1)	to corrupt	corruptible/ incorruptible
legitimacy	to legitimize	…/ il…
3)	to intimidate	intimidating
4)	to bribe	-
morality	-	5) …/ immoral
6)	-	7) …/ unscrupulous

2. Match these words and phrases with their Russian equivalents.

protection racket illegal gambling to be involved in drugs legitimate business narcotic trafficking use violence organized crime extortion bribery to escape l) force somebody by threatening

наркотики вымогательство взяточничество организованная преступность торговля наркотиками быть вовлеченным во что-то избегать, спастись заставлять кого-либо путем угрозы легальный бизнес покровительственный рэкет азартная игра, запрещенная законом применять насилие

III. Say if it is true or false.

1. In all countries there is no distinction between private and public law.

2. The main aim of law is to concern disputes among citizens and the state.

3. Criminal law deals with all forms of responsibility.

4. The right of property is the central institution of civil law.

5. Financial law concerns social structure and organization of state power.

6. Law is a system of rules established by the state.

IV. Choose a synonym to the following words or give an explanation of them using other words, as in the example:

Ex.: Organized crime is the unlawful activities of a highly organized, disciplined association.

1. To undermine

2. Market share

3. Intimidation

4. Gambling

5. Bribery

6. Law enforcement system

7. To eliminate

8. Criminal activity

9. Scruples

10. Legitimate