Multilateral and regional anti-corruption programs

Background

OPDAT was created in the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice in 1991 in response to the growing threat of transnational crime.  OPDAT works with foreign counterparts to strengthen capabilities to investigate and prosecute corruption and other related transnational crimes that are harmful to U.S. interests at home and abroad and to fight such crime before it reaches our shores.

Multilateral Efforts

OPDAT leads several courses for judges, prosecutors, and investigators at the Department of State’s International Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA) facilities around the world:  An anti-corruption and asset recovery course for senior criminal justice practitioners that focuses on investigating and prosecuting corruption and related money laundering cases; and another course for judges and prosecutors on the investigation and prosecution of complex corruption cases. These courses facilitate partnerships, cooperation, and information sharing among the participants coming from around the region of the ILEA.

OPDAT also 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 offenses, and to recover assets.  In partnership with the Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, the RRF enables experienced DOJ anti-corruption experts to address emerging corruption challenges in countries where there is political will and an opening for reform.  Those countries include (or have recently included) Cyprus, Dominican Republic, Moldova, Mongolia, Senegal, Seychelles, and Zambia.

Combatting Corruption in Europe

Effectively combating corruption is a major criterion for the EU accession process. OPDAT develops the anti-corruption investigative and prosecutorial capacity of partners throughout Europe and provides legislative drafting assistance to strengthen relevant legal frameworks and ensure compliance with requirements and conventions to support American businesses.

In Ukraine, engagements have focused on the application of U.S. best practice within Ukraine’s criminal justice system to combat corruption and transnational crime; efforts to enact new justice sector legislation (including a modern criminal procedure code, financial reporting requirements for public officials, and asset confiscation laws); and the establishment of dedicated anti-corruption institutions.

In Albania, OPDAT was instrumental in setting up a constitutionally protected, independent, and vetted Special Prosecution against Organized Crime and Corruption (SPAK) unit, which is responsible for investigating and prosecuting high-level corruption. OPDAT also supported a rigorous system of vetting all judges and prosecutors in Albania for unexplained wealth, corruption, or ties to organized crime.

Throughout the Balkans, Baltics, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Romania, and the Mediterranean, OPDAT provides technical assistance to senior-level prosecutors on high-profile corruption cases.

Lastly, and in particular through its Western Balkans, Baltics, and Mediterranean regional programs, OPDAT provides extensive technical assistance focused on money laundering, sanctions evasion, and other sophisticated financial crimes tied to corruption.

Combatting Corruption in Latin America

Strengthening justice systems throughout Latin America to combat corruption is a top priority for OPDAT. OPDAT’s programs provide technical assistance to judges, prosecutors, and law enforcement officers in combatting transnational crime and its connection to corruption.

Specifically, in the Northern Triangle countries of El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras, OPDAT has dedicated programs and RLAs to help counterparts combat corruption and money laundering.  In Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, and Paraguay OPDAT’s anti-money laundering work has also allowed it to undertake anti-corruption efforts and programs with its counterparts.    OPDAT supported the establishment of the DOJ Northern Triangle Anti-Corruption Task Force and the Specialized Technical Advisory Group (GATE) in Honduras to provide technical assistance on corruption cases, and RLAs continue to coordinate and facilitate exchanges and cooperation on investigations with a U.S. nexus.

Combatting Corruption in Asia

OPDAT’s Asia programs focus on combatting various crimes, including corruption and money laundering.  In Bangladesh, OPDAT provides technical assistance for prosecutors, judges, and law enforcement officials, who handle public corruption cases.  In Indonesia, OPDAT helps to combat corruption by working closely with relevant Indonesian agencies.   

In the Maldives, OPDAT provides technical assistance to counterparts to strengthen their capacity to effectively investigate and prosecute public corruption and money laundering.  In Nepal, OPDAT works with relevant Nepalese investigators, prosecutors, and criminal justice actors to improve investigations and prosecutions of complex crimes, including corruption and money laundering

In addition, OPDAT has two regional programs that impact anti-corruption reform.  The South Asia Regional program hosts regional programs on combatting transnational crime, including corruption, that affect Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.  The regional anti-corruption activities seek to facilitate regional coordination and inspire legislative and regulatory reforms.  The Countering Wildlife Trafficking program helps Southeast Asian countries and Mongolia combat corruption tied to the trafficking of wildlife.

Combatting Corruption in Africa

In Kenya, OPDAT has been assisting with anti-corruption matters since January 2020 by working with vetted U.S. law enforcement supported anti-corruption units; providing technical assistance for investigators, prosecutors and analysts, including on corruption cases; as well as supporting specialized anti-corruption programs for the Kenyan Judiciary Academy. OPDAT has been a long-standing partner to the Kenyan Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) in providing technical assistance, including on complex cases, such as corruption cases.