Global Anti-Corruption Rapid Response Fund

Background

OPDAT manages a Global Anti-Corruption Rapid Response Fund (RRF) to deploy prosecutors and law enforcement officials on temporary international assignments to help foreign partners investigate, prosecute, and adjudicate corruption and related transnational crime, and to recover assets.  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 experienced anti-corruption experts from the Department of Justice (DOJ) to address emerging corruption challenges 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, kleptocracy, 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, kleptocracy, and illicit finance; and helping limit vulnerabilities that can be exploited by corrupt and malign actors.

To explore opportunities for assistance under the RRF, please contact OPDAT Attorney Advisor Damaré Theriot at damare.theriot@usdoj.gov.

Programs

Cyprus

From May to Nov 2024, the RRF funded a six-month engagement in Cyprus by an anti-money laundering prosecutor from DOJ who provided technical assistance to prosecutors and investigators on financial crime cases.  The RRF prosecutor coordinated closely with FBI agents to assist Cypriot counterparts on pending sanctions and money laundering investigations.

Moldova

The RRF currently supports a six-month engagement by an AUSA to provide technical support to prosecutors and other counterparts.

Earlier in 2024, the RRF funded a six-month engagement by an FBI special agent to advise the country’s Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (APO) on corruption investigations. In June 2024, the FBI special agent supported the APO on a joint case that resulted in multiple search and arrest warrants involving a suspected corruption scheme to bribe officials in Moldova and elsewhere to interfere with INTERPOL’s publication of Red Notices for wanted international fugitives. 

Mongolia

The RRF supports a six-month engagement with Mongolia by an anti-money laundering prosecutor from DOJ.  The RRF prosecutor, based at OPDAT HQ, makes intermittent trips to Mongolia to provide technical assistance to prosecutors on corruption cases and asset recovery.

Senegal

The RRF provides resources for a series of TDYs to Senegal by prosecutors with the DOJ International Corporate Anti-Bribery initiative and the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section’s International Unit to provide technical assistance to Senegalese justice partners, including prosecutors and investigators, on international anti-corruption best practices.

Seychelles

The RRF facilitates brief TDYs to the Seychelles by a prosecutor from the DOJ’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Sections to provide technical assistance to the Anti-Corruption Commission of Seychelles and on a public corruption case with asset recovery.

Zambia

The RRF funds a six-month engagement with Zambia by an anti-corruption prosecutor from DOJ. The RRF prosecutor is based at OPDAT HQ and makes intermittent trips to Zambia to assist prosecutors on corruption case management, financial information and evidence collection, and asset recovery. OPDAT also works directly with Zambia’s Economic and Financial Crimes Court on anti-corruption matters.