Italy - Nov 18

Italian police has captured recruits taking a loyalty oath for Italy’s ‘ndrangheta crime syndicate on video. This oath took place in northern Italy and recruited members as young as 17 years old. The evidence was recorded in secret and led to 38 arrests, many associated with illegal business loans in northern Italy and Switzerland. ‘Ndrangheta, a global cocaine trafficking organization, is known for its distinctive initiation rites as it thrives on “the force of tradition” with rituals rooted in the southern Calabrian region.

Sources: Washington Post, BBC