Global Rapid Response Fund

Background

OPDAT manages a Global Rapid Response Fund (RRF) to deploy prosecutors and law enforcement officials on temporary international assignments to help foreign partners dismantle transnational criminal organizations and seize the illicit funds that finance their crimes. Such crime is harmful to U.S. interests at home and abroad, and OPDAT seeks to prevent it from reaching our shores. In partnership with the Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, the RRF enables experts in illicit finance investigations from the Department of Justice (DOJ) to address emerging criminal organizations in countries where there is political will and an opening for reform.  

The RRF provides agility to address immediate issues, including strengthening cross-border coordination against corruption, violent organized crime, and illicit finance; identifying and facilitating case cooperation, whether with the U.S. or with third party countries; promoting the adoption of international instruments, standards, and best practices to combat corruption, violent organized crime, and illicit finance; and helping limit vulnerabilities that can be exploited by corrupt and malign actors. 

Programs

Côte d'Ivoire
Beginning with an April 2026 assessment, the RRF is leading an 8-month program in Abidjan that will include a TDY FBI agent with experience in child exploitation cases in country from June to December, and periodic trips by a CEOS Trial Attorney to work with Ivorian counterparts to improve outcomes in financially motivated sextortion cases with U.S. child victims. 

Dominican Republic
Starting in June of 2026, the RRF is supporting a 3-month TDY by an FBI agent to embed with PEPCA, the Specialized Office for the Prosecution of Administrative Corruption to strengthen their investigative techniques. Focus will be given to PEPCA’s newly created narcotics unit in an effort to help disrupt U.S. bound drug flows and exploitation of customs officials by TCOs and stop illicit financial flows through the U.S. financial system. 

Guyana
Starting in August of 2026, the RRF is supporting a 6-month TDY by an FBI agent and periodic trips by an MNF Trial Attorney to develop a working group and implement other recommendations to improve counterparts’ ability to investigate and prosecute corruption offenses and help create a level playing field for U.S. businesses wishing to invest. 

Mongolia
From Sept 2024 to Sept 2025, the RRF supported an engagement with Mongolia by an anti-money laundering prosecutor from DOJ. The RRF prosecutor made multiple trips to Mongolia to provide technical assistance to prosecutors, investigators, and judges on corruption cases and asset recovery.

Senegal
The RRF provides resources for a series of TDYs to Senegal by prosecutors with the International Unit of the DOJ’s Money Laundering, Narcotics, and Forfeiture Section to provide technical assistance to Senegalese justice partners, including prosecutors and investigators, on best practices. 

Zambia
From June 2024 to the present, the RRF has funded a series of TDYs to Zambia by DOJ prosecutors to assist counterparts on illicit finance case management, financial information and evidence collection, and asset recovery. OPDAT also works directly with Zambia’s Economic and Financial Crimes Court on illicit finance matters and has sent a U.S. federal judge to Zambia to provide technical assistance to the judges on the court.