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, including a “Transnational Organized Crime (TOC), Asset Recovery, and Anti-Corruption” course for senior criminal justice practitioners that focuses on investigating and prosecuting money laundering and related white-collar crimes as tools to disrupt and dismantle violent transnational criminal organizations. OPDAT’s courses facilitate case generation, partnerships, cooperation, and information-sharing among participants attending from throughout the regions of the ILEAs, including El Salvador, Botswana, Hungary, and Thailand.  OPDAT’s courses at the ILEAs are taught by U.S. government subject-matter experts in combating illicit financing and international asset recovery, among other topics. These courses equip participants with effective strategies to combat TOC to promote global and U.S. stability.

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 recover assets.  In partnership with the Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, the RRF enables experienced DOJ anti-corruptionexperts 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, Moldova, Mongolia, Senegal, Seychelles, and Zambia.

Combating 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.

Combating Corruption in Latin America

OPDAT’s programs provide technical assistance to judges, prosecutors, and law enforcement officers in combating transnational crime with a U.S. nexus and its connection to corruption.

In Guatemala, OPDAT has dedicated programs and RLAs to help counterparts combat corruption and money laundering.    OPDAT supported the establishment of the DOJ Northern Triangle Anti-Corruption Task Force to provide technical assistance on corruption cases, and RLAs continue to coordinate and facilitate exchanges and cooperation on investigations with a U.S. nexus.

Combating Corruption in Asia

OPDAT’s Asia programs focus on combating various crimes, including corruption and money laundering.  In Indonesia, OPDAT helps to combat corruption by working closely with relevant Indonesian agencies.   

In Mongolia, OPDAT provides technical assistance to combat money laundering, financial fraud, and related crimes fueled by corruption. In Nepal, OPDAT works with relevant Nepalese investigators, prosecutors, and criminal justice actors to improve investigations and prosecutions of complex crimes, including money laundering

In addition, OPDAT has two regional programs that impact anti-corruption reform.  The South Asia Regional program hosts regional programs on combating transnational crime, including financial fraud and money laundering.  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.