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Dear Supporter,
Securing corrupt deals, stealing from state coffers, funneling illicit funds through shell companies—these are the types of activities that our investigations have exposed over the years. While attention is most often paid to the heads of state and other big names caught in these acts, we’ve found that the people working behind the scenes are just as vital to these operations. These people are known as enablers.
Enablers use their skills and connections to make kleptocracies work—enriching themselves and those they work for with little regard for the human cost. They are the ones who move the dirty money, hide the stolen assets, and create the structures into which illicit funds can be transferred. To combat corruption and stop violent kleptocrats, we need to root out the hidden support networks of enablers that they rely so heavily on.
Through our investigations, we have identified the commonalities and characteristics of enablers, which we outline in a new briefing “Constructing Corruption: Identifying the Enablers Helping Build Violent Kleptocracies.” The briefing uses 16 case studies to profile the key types of enablers we’ve come across, including financial institutions, professionals, international operators, and insiders.
In order to drive systemic change, we need to expose and dismantle corrupt, predatory networks from top to bottom. This briefing provides a road map for how governments, law enforcement, and the private sector can identify and take action against enablers. By targeting them through financial tools of pressure and other policy actions, it is possible to alter enablers’ cost-benefit calculations and thereby remove them as an essential ally in the construction of violent kleptocracies.
Thank you for your support,
Justyna Gudzowska
Director of Illicit Finance Policy
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