[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":320},["ShallowReactive",2],{"news-global-professionals-begin-new-anti-corruption-studies-2851":3,"news-global-professionals-begin-new-anti-corruption-studies-2851-similar":44,"i-heroicons:arrow-left-20-solid":315},[4],{"id":5,"status":6,"date_created":7,"date_updated":8,"title":9,"type":10,"body":11,"date":12,"topic":13,"slug":16,"activity":17,"nid":20,"topics":21,"activities":25,"programme":26,"area":26,"websites":26,"language":27,"image":28,"translation_of":26,"countries":38,"tags":39,"authors":40,"images":41,"translations":42,"content":43},10573,"published","2025-09-29T16:01:39.000Z","2026-06-06T09:17:51.000Z","Global professionals begin new anti-corruption studies","News","The Basel Institute’s first international postgraduate programme in anti-corruption has begun. 12 students from 11 countries across Africa, Europe and North America are taking part in the six-month course, led by Basel Institute staff and resulting in a Certificate of Advanced Studies from the University of Basel.\n\nThe course, [Mastering Today’s Anti-Corruption Challenges](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Flearning\u002Fbasel-study\u002Fcas-anti-corruption), equips mid-career professionals with the tools, skills and networks to address corruption and governance challenges in their work.\n\nLead instructor Dr Claudia Baez Camargo, Director of the Institute’s Prevention, Research and Innovation team, explained:\n\n> Through this programme, participants will not only deepen their understanding of corruption in today’s complex world, but also learn to evaluate the real evidence on what works. Most importantly, they will be empowered to apply these insights with confidence in their own countries and professional contexts, helping to strengthen integrity and good governance where it matters most.\n\n### Shaping the next generation of anti-corruption leaders\n\nThree participants attended the opening event on 26–27 September in person in Basel, while those unable to travel joined the sessions online.\n\nThe first cohort is made up of peers with diverse academic backgrounds – including legal, economic, political and other disciplines – and professional experience in the public, private and civil society sectors, in multilateral organisations and the media.\n\nThey were welcomed by the Basel Institute’s President Peter Maurer and Executive Director Betsy Andersen, together with the Basel STUDY team and instructors.\n\nVisits to the University of Basel and the historic centre gave participants and instructors the chance to bond while exploring Swiss traditions.\n\nThe participants who attended the launch in person described themselves as:\n\n> “excited”, “grateful” and “honoured”.\n\nAsked what she hoped to get out of the course, Tamara Lee, a Business Analyst and Project Manager from Ireland, said:\n\n> I hope I’ll learn to see corruption issues with a sharper, more professional lens. Instead of falling back on the usual buzzwords or the kind of surface-level ideas we see on social media or hear in conversations, I’d like to be able to look at situations in a deeper, more critical way.\n\nDr Ramadhani Marijani, a Senior Lecturer and Researcher at Tanzania’s University of Dodoma, added: \n\n> I hope I can be able to resolve anti-corruption challenges from an African perspective and understand other challenges in the global sphere. I am looking forward to engaging in classes, sharing and learning from other fellow participants from Africa and other countries and from the community of practice fighting the war against corruption globally.\n\nIlinca-Ioana Bīlc, Legal Advisor at a bank in Romania, emphasised her desire to explore a holistic approach to anti-corruption: \n\n> I want to know how I can fight \\[corruption\\] from different angles besides the basic one that everyone expects: you just follow the guidelines and then there will be no corruption. When in fact, the problem is much bigger and we need way more different ways of tackling it. \n\n### Exploring corruption’s links to today’s greatest challenges\n\nSaturday’s classroom sessions with Dr Saba Kassa explored how corruption connects to today’s greatest concerns, from shifting geopolitics and democratic backsliding to migration and climate change. This sets the foundation for modules delivered in live online sessions over the next six months and covering:\n\n*   How corruption and governance impact states, societies and organisations.\n*   The fundamentals of anti-corruption practice, from legal instruments to effective enforcement and prevention.\n*   Novel approaches to anti-corruption, drawing on political and behavioural sciences.\n*   How anti-corruption strategies are implemented internationally – and how they could be made more effective.\n\nStudents will apply their knowledge through a personal study project on a corruption challenge of their choice.\n\n### Scholarship fund opens doors to global talent\n\nSeveral participants benefited from tuition support thanks to generous donors to the [Gretta Fenner Scholarship Fund](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Flearning\u002Fbasel-study\u002Fscholarship).\n\nThe fund supports applicants from lower-income backgrounds who show strong commitment to anti-corruption, transparency and good governance. It reflects the vision of the Basel Institute’s late Managing Director Gretta Fenner to educate and empower anti-corruption leaders everywhere, regardless of financial means.\n\nOne recipient is Nigerian lawyer Emmanuela OkonkwoAbutu of the Abuja-based African Centre for Governance, Asset Recovery and Sustainable Development. She shared:\n\n> This prestigious study programme... offers a forum to learn from professionals who are influencing the global conversation on anti-corruption… This educational journey would not have been possible without the support of the Gretta Fenner Scholarship Fund.\n\nWe are grateful to The International Academy of Financial Crime Litigators, the Academy’s co-founders Elizabeth Ortega (ECO Strategic Communications), Stéphane Bonifassi (Bonifassi Avocats) and Lincoln Caylor (Bennett Jones), as well as Swiss law firm Kellerhals Carrard for their generous donations to the Fund.\n\n### Expanding opportunities through Basel STUDY\n\n[Basel STUDY](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Flearning\u002Fbasel-study) – the Basel Institute’s postgraduate programme initiative – is designed to boost the knowledge, skills and careers of professionals committed to countering corruption and financial crime.\n\nIt builds on the Institute’s long-standing capacity-building approach, encouraging peer learning, hands-on practice and real-life cases. The two available Certificate of Advanced Studies programmes combine this practitioner-led spirit with the academic rigour of the University of Basel.\n\nThe second course, [_Combating_ _Financial Crime Through Asset Recovery_](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Flearning\u002Fbasel-study\u002Fcas-asset-recovery), starts in February 2026. Applications remain open for self-funded or employer-funded participants.\n\n### Learn more\n\n*   Explore other learning opportunities at the Basel Institute, including free eLearning courses on [Basel LEARN](https:\u002F\u002Flearn.baselgovernance.org\u002F), our four-day course on [crypto, financial crime and AML compliance](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fcrypto-aml-training), and our flagship [asset recovery training programmes](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fasset-recovery\u002Ftraining-programmes) for law enforcement agencies.\n*   Learn about the [Gretta Fenner Scholarship Fund](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Flearning\u002Fbasel-study\u002Fscholarship) – and consider donating to help change lives and create impact!","2025-09-29",[14,15],"Prevention"," Research and Innovation","global-professionals-begin-new-anti-corruption-studies-2851",[18,19],"Courses","Training",2851,[22,23,24],"Corruption Prevention and Public Governance","Prevention Research and Innovation","Learning and training",[18,19],null,"English",{"id":29,"storage":30,"filename_disk":31,"filename_download":32,"title":9,"type":33,"created_on":7,"modified_on":7,"charset":26,"filesize":34,"width":35,"height":36,"duration":26,"embed":26,"description":26,"location":26,"tags":26,"metadata":37,"focal_point_x":26,"focal_point_y":26,"tus_id":26,"tus_data":26,"uploaded_on":7},"be4b8143-bba3-4760-8f60-d11dcedc3f7b","local","be4b8143-bba3-4760-8f60-d11dcedc3f7b.webp","tmp.webp","image\u002Fwebp",18434,800,533,{},[],[],[],[],[],[],[45,85,107,140,177,208,238,259,291],{"id":46,"body":47,"status":6,"type":48,"date":49,"slug":50,"title":51,"image":52,"countries":53,"topic":56,"activity":57,"tags":59,"nid":72,"topics":73,"activities":74,"authors":75,"images":77,"websites":26,"area":26,"programme":26,"language":27,"translations":78,"translation_of":26,"user_created":79,"date_created":80,"user_updated":81,"date_updated":82,"content":83,"link":84},10615,"When Bulgaria joined the European Union in 2007, many believed it would lead to more secure, transparent and less corrupt borders. New regulations, infrastructure modernisation and digitalised customs procedures all followed. European standards and money arrived together.\n\nYet corruption did not disappear at the Kapitan Andreevo border checkpoint, the main land crossing between Bulgaria and Türkiye and one of the busiest gateways between Europe and Asia. Instead, it evolved.\n\nThis is the central finding of a recent [article](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fpublications\u002Fevolution-corruption-and-crimes-kapitan-andreevo-border-checkpoint-impact-eu-accession) by the Prevention, Research and Innovation team of the Basel Institute on Governance – Dr Jacopo Costa, Dr Claudia Baez Camargo, Noémi Jäger and Dr Saba Kassa – published in the _Journal of Illicit Trade, Financial Crime, and Compliance_.\n\nThe article examines how criminal networks, smugglers, businesses and corrupt officials adapted to Bulgaria’s EU integration. It illustrates how corruption behaves like an adaptive ecosystem: when regulations and border control technologies change, corruption changes with them.\n\nA border built for opportunity – legal and illegal\n\nBorder spaces concentrate discretionary power in the hands of customs officers, border guards, inspectors and regulators, while bringing together also traders, transport companies, migrants, smugglers, criminal groups and political actors.\n\nKapitan Andreevo is a particularly instructive case due to its strategic location, with thousands of trucks, travellers and goods passing through the border checkpoint daily.\n\nBefore Bulgaria’s EU accession, corruption at the checkpoint was already deeply embedded. The 1990s brought economic crisis, shortages of consumer goods, weak state capacity and rapidly expanding informal markets. Smuggling became a profitable survival strategy.\n\nBorder officials could be bribed to overlook undeclared goods, counterfeit products and tax evasion. Duty-free shops in the \"no man's land\" between Bulgaria and Türkiye became hubs for smuggling cigarettes, alcohol and petroleum products.\n\nCorruption operated at multiple levels:\n\n*   everyday exchanges between traders, drivers and officials, often based on long-standing personal relationships, at the lower level\n*   connections between politicians, senior civil servants, business elites and organised crime at the higher level.\n\nSmuggling routes required political protection. Profits flowed upward through patronage systems.\n\nEU accession changed the rules of the game\n\nBulgaria’s EU accession radically transformed the legal and institutional environment. The country had to align its customs regulations, VAT rules, excise tax systems, phytosanitary standards and border procedures with EU standards – a gradual process requiring significant investment. The reforms affected almost every aspect of border governance.\n\nCustoms procedures became increasingly digitalised. New systems such as the VAT Information Exchange System (VIES) and the Excise Movement and Control System (EMCS) improved cross-border monitoring.\n\nPhytosanitary and veterinary inspections became stricter. Migration controls tightened through alignment with Schengen rules and access to systems like the Schengen Information System (SIS) and international databases of stolen documents and vehicles.\n\nMeanwhile, new border control technologies – X-ray machines, scanners, thermal cameras and risk-analysis tools – expanded the state’s capacity to detect illicit activity.\n\nFrom a policy perspective, this appeared to be a modernisation success story. But criminal systems rarely remain static when the environment changes.\n\nCorruption did not decline – it adapted\n\nThe most striking finding is that stronger controls often increase the strategic value of corruption.\n\nAfter EU accession, crossing the border illegally became more difficult, risky and expensive. Corruption became necessary not only to speed up procedures but to bypass sophisticated control and regulatory systems.\n\nIn other words, modernisation transformed the function of corruption: Criminal actors began targeting specialised procedures, such as food safety inspections, VAT systems, automated license plate recognition, laboratory testing and digital customs controls.\n\nVAT fraud and the manipulation of digital systems\n\nVAT fraud illustrates this adaptation clearly. Within the EU, exports are often subject to a VAT rate of 0 (zero) percent, which means companies can reclaim any VAT they have already paid domestically. Criminal actors exploited this through \"carousel fraud\" schemes involving fictitious transactions chains.\n\nAt Kapitan Andreevo border checkpoint, for example, corruption allegedly enabled traders to manipulate customs procedures. One method involved corrupt officials manually entering fake truck registrations into customs systems to simulate border crossings, enabling fraudulent VAT refunds for exports that never occurred.\n\nEven more revealing was the manipulation of automated license plate recognition: corrupt actors reportedly disabled automated recognition and manually entered altered plates using Cyrillic characters resembling Latin letters, allowing smugglers to bypass alerts and inspections.\n\nThis illustrates a pattern seen in many modern corruption systems: digitalisation does not automatically eliminate corruption. Instead, corruption turns towards the technological systems themselves.\n\nFood safety, privatisation and rent-seeking\n\nEU food safety and phytosanitary regulations created new bottlenecks and forms of discretionary authority. The research describes two recurring manipulation strategies:\n\n*   selective sampling during inspections, where officials took samples only from \"clean\" sections of shipments; and\n*   falsification of laboratory tests to certify unsafe products as compliant.\n\nThese risks increased after some border functions were outsourced to private companies. At Kapitan Andreevo, food testing, parking operations and vehicle disinfection were privatised. This reform, intended to increase efficiency, allegedly created new opportunities for rent extraction.\n\nThe controversy surrounding Eurolab 2011, which reportedly obtained monopolistic control over food safety testing under questionable legal arrangements became emblematic of these tensions.\n\nThe broader implication: privatisation of public functions does not necessarily reduce corruption risks. It can shift them into hybrid public-private arrangements where accountability is weaker and oversight is more fragmented.\n\nThe rise of “routinised” corruption\n\nThe study highlights the increased organisation of corruption itself. Today, no single official can independently guarantee a smuggling route. Procedures involve multiple agencies, overlapping inspections and layered oversight.\n\nAs a result, corruption evolved towards collective coordination. Customs officers, border guards, supervisors, intermediaries and sometimes political actors participate in networks where bribes are pooled and redistributed.\n\nThese schemes resemble coordinated organisational systems with revenue-sharing mechanisms, internal hierarchies and protection structures rather than isolated rogue actors.\n\nThis reflects an important conceptual change: border corruption can function as an embedded institutional ecosystem sustained through cooperation, mutual dependence and political protection.\n\nDrug trafficking: when corruption becomes too risky\n\nInterestingly, corruption is not always the preferred strategy. In drug trafficking, for example, the risks are dramatically higher. Border officials caught facilitating drug trafficking could face severe criminal penalties, including organised crime charges and lengthy prison sentences.\n\nAs a result, traffickers increasingly invest in sophisticated concealment methods. One example is the \"twin trucks\" strategy: several nearly identical trucks carrying similar cargo cross the border simultaneously during heavy traffic, with only one of them containing drugs. Since inspection capacity is limited, the probability is high that the \"clean\" trucks are checked while the drug shipment passes undetected.\n\nThis shows that corruption and criminality do not always go hand in hand. Sometimes, stronger anti-corruption measures push criminals towards deception and concealment rather than bribery.\n\nThe bigger lesson: criminal systems are adaptive\n\nThe case study of the Kapitan Andreevo border crossing is not just about Bulgaria. Policymakers often assume that more technology, controls and regulation will automatically reduce corruption and illicit trade.\n\nBut criminal systems and corruption adapt. Informal networks reorganise around the vulnerabilities created by reforms. Every regulatory innovation creates new incentives, bottlenecks and opportunities for exploitation.\n\nThis does not mean reforms are useless. Many EU measures have clearly strengthened border management. However, reforms must be designed with an understanding of adaptive behaviour. Otherwise, states risk producing unintended consequences: stronger incentives for bribery, use of alternative trafficking routes, technological manipulation, new forms of collusion or opaque privatisation structures.\n\nI and my co-authors argue for a more integrated approach that combines anti-corruption and anti-crime strategies. We also emphasise the importance of anticipatory governance and foresight-oriented policymaking that try to predict how illicit actors will respond to institutional changes before reforms are implemented.\n\nThis may be the most important lesson from Kapitan Andreevo. Borders are not static lines defended by static institutions against static threats. They are evolving ecosystems where states, markets, technologies and criminal actors constantly adapt to one another.\n\nLearn more\n\n*   Access the full article, “[The Evolution of Corruption and Crimes at Kapitan Andreevo Border Checkpoint: The Impact of EU Accession](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fpublications\u002Fevolution-corruption-and-crimes-kapitan-andreevo-border-checkpoint-impact-eu-accession)”.\n*   Read our [Quick Guide 38 to border corruption](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fpublications\u002Fqg38) for a short introduction.\n*   Read our Working Paper 58, “Corruption as a facilitator of drug trafficking in the port of Rotterdam” for a related analysis.","Blog","2026-05-26","how-stronger-borders-can-create-smarter-corruption-lessons-from-one-of-europes-most-strategic-border-crossings-2972","How stronger borders can create smarter corruption: lessons from one of Europe's most strategic border crossings","https:\u002F\u002Fbg24.baselgovernance.org\u002Fcms\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F693afaed-084c-4590-aafd-c2d51b28adf7?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[54,55],7814,7815,[14,15],[58],"Insights",[60,64,68],{"tags_id":61},{"id":62,"name":63},859,"Corruption risks",{"tags_id":65},{"id":66,"name":67},982,"Anti-corruption",{"tags_id":69},{"id":70,"name":71},1374,"Law enforcement",2972,[23],[58],[76],1373,[],[],"03bebfd8-0b40-4a2a-820d-b9d9c13b9de6","2026-06-04T21:13:44.000Z","3d9ff205-1640-4f34-b5b6-86977f51bbd6","2026-06-05T19:08:53.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fhow-stronger-borders-can-create-smarter-corruption-lessons-from-one-of-europes-most-strategic-border-crossings-2972",{"id":86,"body":87,"status":6,"type":10,"date":88,"slug":89,"title":90,"image":91,"countries":92,"topic":93,"activity":95,"tags":96,"nid":97,"topics":98,"activities":99,"authors":100,"images":101,"websites":26,"area":26,"programme":26,"language":27,"translations":102,"translation_of":26,"user_created":79,"date_created":103,"user_updated":81,"date_updated":104,"content":105,"link":106},10620,"The Basel Institute on Governance is expanding its training offer to help more professionals build practical skills in financial investigations and asset recovery.\n\nBuilding on decades of global experience, we are launching new courses for both public-sector practitioners and non-state actors. Our hands-on, case-based training is now accessible to a wider audience than ever before.\n\n### Reaching new audiences\n\nFor the first time, our flagship financial investigations and asset recovery training is available as an open enrolment online course for individual public-sector practitioners.\n\nWe are also expanding our offer for civil society organisations, investigative journalists and other professionals outside government. These groups play a growing role in exposing financial misconduct and supporting accountability.\n\nThe new courses build on the success of our popular [Introduction to blockchain: Crypto investigation and AML compliance](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fcrypto-aml-training) course. This course equips participants to tackle the misuse of cryptoassets for financial crime.\n\n### New course for public-sector practitioners\n\nThe [financial investigations and asset recovery online course](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fassetrecovery-openenrolment) is a five-day, instructor-led training for investigators, prosecutors, judges and financial intelligence practitioners.\n\nParticipants work through a realistic case. They apply practical techniques to follow financial leads across jurisdictions, analyse financial flows, gather evidence using open-source intelligence and develop effective investigative strategies.\n\nThe first open-enrolment course will take place from 20–24 July 2026.\n\n### New courses for civil society and journalists\n\nWe are also launching Asset recovery for civil society and journalists, tailored to non-state actors working to uncover corruption and track public funds. This includes private-sector professionals working in compliance or investigations.\n\nTwo formats are available:\n\n*   An [online course for individual participants](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Ffiar_csos), with the first open-enrolment session planned from 2–5 November 2026.\n*   A [tailored training programme for organisations and groups](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fcourse-asset-recovery-training-civil-society-and-journalists), delivered on site or virtually.\n\nBoth formats are built around a realistic corruption case. Participants gain hands-on experience in tracing assets, analysing financial information and understanding how asset recovery works in practice.\n\n### Part of a wider learning offer\n\nThese courses complement our broader learning ecosystem.\n\nThis includes [Basel LEARN](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fbasel-learn), our free eLearning platform, and [Basel STUDY](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fstudy), our academic programmes. Together, they provide flexible pathways for professionals to build and deepen their expertise.\n\n### A proven track record\n\nThe training courses are led by practitioners from the Basel Institute's International Centre for Asset Recovery (ICAR). Over the past 18 years, ICAR has trained more than 5,800 practitioners from financial intelligence units, law enforcement, prosecuting and judicial authorities in over 138 countries.\n\nAn independent study by Fondazione Safe found that our case-based, \"learning by doing\" approach drives meaningful institutional change and strengthens the effectiveness of efforts to tackle corruption and related crimes. Thierry Ravalomanda, Head of Training at ICAR, explained:\n\n> “We know from experience that practical, skills-based training makes a real difference in the fight against financial crime. By opening up our flagship courses to individual practitioners and expanding our offer for civil society and journalists, we are helping more people develop the tools they need to trace assets, follow the money and support accountability.”\n\nWith these new courses, we aim to make our expertise accessible to a broader community working to prevent, detect and address financial crime.","2026-05-07","new-training-courses-expand-access-to-financial-investigation-and-asset-recovery-skills-2961","New training courses expand access to financial investigation and asset recovery skills","https:\u002F\u002Fbg24.baselgovernance.org\u002Fcms\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002Fd35bd5ef-7211-4d1f-8ff5-4b27afe8aa5c?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[],[94],"Asset Recovery",[19],[],2961,[94,24],[19],[],[],[],"2026-06-04T21:13:49.000Z","2026-06-06T09:17:52.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fnew-training-courses-expand-access-to-financial-investigation-and-asset-recovery-skills-2961",{"id":108,"body":109,"status":6,"type":48,"date":110,"slug":111,"title":112,"image":113,"countries":114,"topic":115,"activity":116,"tags":119,"nid":122,"topics":123,"activities":124,"authors":125,"images":126,"websites":26,"area":26,"programme":26,"language":27,"translations":127,"translation_of":26,"user_created":79,"date_created":128,"user_updated":81,"date_updated":129,"content":130,"link":139},10607,"Corruption is not just a collection of isolated acts by individuals. It is a complex, adaptive system that evolves in response to efforts to control it. And seeing it this way opens up new possibilities to tackle it more effectively.\n\nThis was the central message of a recent Basel Institute on Governance research webinar exploring how corruption evolves and what this means for designing interventions that remain effective over time.\n\nTwo senior researchers from the Basel Institute's Prevention, Research and Innovation – Dr Claudia Baez Camargo and Dr Jacopo Costa – were joined by Dr Maria Nizzero, Head of Sanctions Policy at UK Finance and Associate Research Fellow at RUSI, to explore corruption's networked nature and its implications.\n\nThese implications are practical as much as conceptual. Understanding corruption as a networked, adaptive system changes how corruption, organised crime, sanctions evasion and related threats need to be addressed in practice.\n\n### Corruption as a dynamic system\n\nA recent [academic paper](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fpublications\u002Fconceptualizing-evolution-corruption-empirical-analysis-italy) by Dr Baez Camargo and Dr Costa highlights a key gap in how corruption is typically analysed. While it is widely accepted that corrupt and criminal strategies change over time, the mechanisms driving that change have received far less attention.\n\nTheir analytical framework suggests that corruption evolves through changes in the behaviour of individuals within networks, shaped by shifts in the broader environment. These shifts may include stronger enforcement, legal and regulatory reforms, technological developments, or wider political and economic change. When new strategies prove effective, they spread across networks through collaboration, brokerage and imitation.\n\nA case study of Italy illustrates this process. In the early 1990s, corruption operated through relatively centralised, pyramidal structures linked to political parties. Over time, following scandals, reforms and increased scrutiny, this system became more fragmented and decentralised. Corrupt practices moved away from formalised exchanges and became more networked, informal and embedded in relationships.\n\nThe outcome was not less corruption, but different corruption.\n\nAs Dr Costa noted, corruption and anti-corruption are engaged in an “uninterrupted dance”, in which “very often, corrupt actors are two steps ahead of us”.\n\n### The concept of the “kleptocratic enterprise”\n\nLooking at corruption through a network lens also opens up new ways of thinking about how to tackle it.\n\n[Research by Dr Nizzero and co-authors](https:\u002F\u002Fgiace.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2026\u002F01\u002FGIACE_Kleptocratic-Enterprises_NizzeroHeathershawMayne.pdf) Professor John Heathershaw and Professor Tom Mayne highlights the persistent challenges of asset recovery and enforcement in cases of large-scale corruption. Illicit wealth is often concealed through complex ownership structures, dispersed across jurisdictions and distanced from its original source over time. Legal frameworks may exist, but applying them effectively remains difficult.\n\nA key part of the problem lies in the role of professional service providers. Lawyers, accountants, real estate actors, company service providers and others help move, manage and shield assets. These actors often operate across borders and may serve a wide range of clients, including both organised crime groups and politically exposed individuals.\n\nThis has led to the idea of a “kleptocratic enterprise”: a networked system in which clients demand services such as concealment and asset protection, and a range of actors supply those services. Viewing corruption in this way shifts attention towards patterns of conduct, relationships and enabling structures.\n\nIt also suggests that tools used to tackle organised crime, such as anti-racketeering or anti-mafia approaches, may offer useful insights. These frameworks often focus on networks rather than individuals, combine multiple legal tools and allow for a broader understanding of harm, including the impact on society.\n\nAt the same time, responses must remain grounded in due process and the rule of law. Stronger measures can create new risks, including displacement of illicit activity to other jurisdictions or unintended consequences linked to overreach. The challenge is to expand the toolkit without compromising core legal principles.\n\n### When enforcement creates new risks\n\nField research by the Basel Institute under the EU-funded [FALCON project](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.falcon-horizon.eu\u002F) shows how quickly corrupt and criminal networks adapt to enforcement pressure.\n\nAt the [Port of Rotterdam](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fpublications\u002Fwp-58), increased inspections and surveillance aimed at tackling drug trafficking made insider access more valuable. Corruption became a critical mechanism for bypassing strengthened controls, illustrating how enforcement can shift incentives in ways that reinforce the role of corruption.\n\nAt the Kapitan Andreevo border crossing between Bulgaria and Turkey, changes linked to EU accession, including new regulatory frameworks and stronger border controls, were followed by new forms of corruption and criminal activity. These included routinised extractive practices, shifts in smuggling strategies and the emergence of new actors.\n\nAcross both cases, the pattern is consistent. Measures designed to reduce corruption and illicit activity can reshape how those activities are organised and carried out.\n\n### Why networks are so resilient\n\nOne reason corruption adapts so effectively lies in the nature of the networks themselves.\n\nAs Dr Baez Camargo explains, enforcement-focused approaches can become a “whack-a-mole game” when underlying incentives remain unchanged. Efforts to close one avenue often lead to the emergence of another.\n\n[Informal networks](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fpublications\u002Fquick-guide-23-informal-networks-and-anti-corruption) are particularly resilient because they are built on more than financial exchange. Trust, personal relationships and shared social norms play a central role. These elements are difficult to detect, harder to regulate and highly adaptable.\n\nCriminal and corrupt networks are also flexible and opportunistic. They can shift strategies, routes and methods quickly, drawing on significant resources and expertise. Formal institutions, by contrast, operate within legal and procedural constraints, which can limit their ability to respond at the same pace.\n\n### Towards more adaptive responses\n\nIf corruption behaves like a complex adaptive system, anti-corruption efforts need to reflect that reality.\n\nOne emerging approach is to place greater emphasis on understanding systems rather than focusing narrowly on individual interventions. This involves mapping relationships, incentives and behavioural patterns in much greater depth, and remaining alert to how these evolve over time.\n\nIt also requires a shift away from strictly linear theories of change. Fixed indicators and predefined outcomes can miss important developments, particularly when systems are dynamic and interconnected. A more flexible approach allows practitioners to identify early signals of change, whether positive or negative, and adjust their strategies accordingly.\n\nAs Dr Baez Camargo puts it, “we cannot keep thinking that change is linear”. A better understanding of systems, combined with the ability to detect and respond to change, is essential for staying relevant in rapidly evolving contexts.\n\n### A shift in perspective\n\nTaken together, these insights point to a broader conclusion. Corruption is not static, and responses to it cannot be static either.\n\nUnderstanding corruption as a networked, adaptive system changes how problems are defined and how solutions are designed. It brings greater attention to relationships, incentives and enabling structures. It also highlights the importance of anticipating how systems will respond to interventions.\n\nFor practitioners working on corruption, organised crime or related risks, this shift is increasingly important. Integrating it into programming should help us not only respond more quickly as corruption adapts – i.e. whack the moles more rapidly when they pop up. It should also help us design flexible, creative and context-sensitive interventions that can genuinely disrupt these resilient illicit networks and themselves adapt to remain effective over time.\n\n### Learn more\n\n*   [Conceptualizing the evolution of corruption: an empirical analysis from Italy](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fpublications\u002Fconceptualizing-evolution-corruption-empirical-analysis-italy), by Dr Jacopo Costa and Dr Claudia Baez Camargo.\n*   [Corruption as a facilitator of drug trafficking in the port of Rotterdam](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fpublications\u002Fwp-58), by Dr Saba Kassa and Dr Jacopo Costa \n*   [The Kleptocratic Enterprise: Lessons from organised crime to target transnational corruption and strengthen asset recovery in the UK](https:\u002F\u002Fgiace.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2026\u002F01\u002FGIACE_Kleptocratic-Enterprises_NizzeroHeathershawMayne.pdf), by Dr Maria Nizzero, Professor John Heathershaw and Professor Tom Mayne\n\n### Webinar recording\n\n\u003Ciframe allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fembed\u002FETQto16U_q4?si=yrjbtCTRmQ5ceTPo\" title=\"YouTube video player\" width=\"560\">\u003C\u002Fiframe>\n\nDisclaimer\n\n_This webinar and summary are part of the FALCON (Fight Against Largescale Corruption and Organised Crime Networks) project. FALCON is funded under the European Union’s Horizon Europe Framework Program Grant Agreement ID 101121281. The Basel Institute on Governance, as an associated partner without the right to receive funds directly from the European Research Executive Agency, has received funding from the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI). The contents of this summary are the sole responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union, the European Research Executive Agency or SERI._","2026-03-25","corruption-is-a-complex-adaptive-network-what-does-this-mean-for-anti-corruption-policy-and-practice-2945","Corruption is a complex, adaptive network. What does this mean for anti-corruption policy and practice?","https:\u002F\u002Fbg24.baselgovernance.org\u002Fcms\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002Faf37ba1d-85e1-4724-ab47-4e58056330c6?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[],[14,15],[117,118],"Events","Research",[120],{"tags_id":121},{"id":66,"name":67},2945,[23],[117,118],[],[],[],"2026-04-15T22:45:18.000Z","2026-05-07T21:29:58.000Z",[131,132,133,134,135,136,137,138],1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fcorruption-is-a-complex-adaptive-network-what-does-this-mean-for-anti-corruption-policy-and-practice-2945",{"id":141,"body":142,"status":6,"type":48,"date":143,"slug":144,"title":145,"image":146,"countries":147,"topic":149,"activity":151,"tags":153,"nid":167,"topics":168,"activities":169,"authors":170,"images":172,"websites":26,"area":26,"programme":26,"language":27,"translations":173,"translation_of":26,"user_created":79,"date_created":174,"user_updated":81,"date_updated":104,"content":175,"link":176},10596,"_Our colleague Límberg Chero has played an important role in establishing the Basel Institute’s strong presence in Peru. From the early years – even before a formal office existed in Lima – to his current work with the [Subnational Public Finance Management Programme](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fpublic-finance-peru) ([Programa GFP Subnacional](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.gfpsubnacional.pe\u002F)), his journey reflects a great passion for fighting corruption. It began far from the capital, in an ancient town in northern Peru, and was strengthened through rigorous academic training and years of public service._\n\n_This article is part of a series on careers in fighting financial crime and opportunities to learn and study with the Basel Institute._\n\n### The take-off in Peru\n\nMy journey at the Basel Institute on Governance began even before the Lima office existed.\n\nIn 2014, together with colleagues from the Basel Institute – including our dearly missed Managing Director of two decades, Gretta Fenner, and my colleague Óscar Solórzano – we launched a public finance management project funded by the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs of Switzerland (SECO).\n\nAlthough centred on macroeconomics and fiscal policy, its essential goal was to make the public budget tangible and meaningful for citizens.\n\nTo do this, we moved beyond traditional approaches and integrated innovative tools, like the use of behavioural science to prevent corruption and foster integrity in the management of public finances. This comprehensive perspective – a novelty in Peru at the time – was key to the project proposal’s success.\n\nSince then, the Subnational Public Finance Management Programme for regional and municipal governments in Peru has retained SECO’s trust for more than 10 years.\n\nThe secret behind this success lies not only in improved processes and fiscal discipline, but in the continuous work with people committed to change. Internally, the Basel Institute’s team is multidisciplinary, open to change and committed to bridging practice and academic insight.\n\n### Bridging differences for sustainability\n\nWorking at the Basel Institute on Governance is truly a privilege. Our Lima office has gained remarkable regional recognition thanks to a distinctive approach: practical, rigorous and focused on building strong relationships with key actors in the fight against corruption, money laundering and terrorist financing.\n\nI currently lead the Subnational PFM Programme’s Interinstitutional Coordination, ensuring the programme’s effectiveness and, above all, the sustainability of reforms at subnational levels, in alignment with national efforts.\n\nThis work requires the continuous reconciliation of the different “languages”, worldviews and objectives of people across Peru’s diverse regions.\n\nOur aim is to craft strategies and messages that resonate equally to ministries, regional governments and municipalities – aligning technical agendas with political ones, and engaging civil society and academia along the way.\n\nThis challenge becomes more manageable because of my background: I come from an ancient town in northern Peru, Monsefú. Being perceived as someone close yet trained in competitive academic and professional environments fosters trust and legitimacy.\n\n### From economics to a global mission\n\nAs a child, leaving my town felt impossible. Universities were located in other regions and the educational options available largely led to local career paths tied to a modest economy with little real opportunities. At that time, the country had not yet experienced the trade openness or business development it has today.\n\nThrough hard work and the trust of people who believed in me, however, I earned scholarships that allowed me to study in highly competitive environments in Peru’s capital, Lima, more than 1,000 kilometres away from my hometown.\n\nMy foundations were solid: I completed my undergraduate studies in economics and later specialised through the Central Bank’s Economics Programme, which admits only 30 candidates out of thousands of applicants, as well as through an internship at the World Bank in Korea.\n\nI worked as an economist at institutions such as the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Central Reserve Bank of Peru, the Andean Community (CAN) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).\n\nAt that time, my professional life felt complete: it combined specialised technical work with teaching and active participation in international networks. These included the Andrés Bello Agreement Network, which brought together university researchers from multiple countries to reflect on and advance regional integration in Ibero-America, as well as the Puentes Network, which focused on promoting transparency in investment by Latin American companies.\n\nBut everything changed when I fully grasped the scope of the challenges posed by global corruption. I never imagined my economics degree would only be the starting point of a much bigger journey. From that moment on, my purpose became clear: to dedicate all my experience to strengthening this fight against forces that hinder global prosperity.\n\n### Innovating with little budget\n\nIn Latin America, the Basel Institute is known for results-oriented innovation. I have witnessed firsthand how every new skill quickly finds a practical application and how we can make significant contributions without the need for additional funding.\n\nFor example, I could draw on my Master’s degrees in Process Innovation and Government Control, and in Public Management and Education (Andragogy) to enrich various initiatives we pursued, such as:\n\n*   supporting regional governments in implementing structural reforms in significantly shorter timeframes;\n*   strengthening Peru’s [Public Finance Management Experts Network](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fnews\u002Fswiss-support-public-finance-management-experts-network-peru), which was recognised during [Peru’s National Innovation Week](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fnews\u002Fperus-innovation-week-showcases-training-concept-our-public-finance-management-team);\n*   and reducing dropout rates and increasing course completion in our Internal Control and Integrity courses through, among other things, the introduction of “virtual coffee breaks”.\n\nDuring the pandemic, we leveraged my background in education to [enhance our online learning and training approach and results](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fblog\u002Fhow-design-virtual-training-course-works-your-context-experiences-peru). For example, we started to deliver courses and training across the country via Facebook, a platform that at the time did not charge for mobile data usage and allowed public officials to participate even using low-end mobile phones. These courses have since been integrated into [Basel LEARN](https:\u002F\u002Flearn.baselgovernance.org\u002F) – the Basel Institute’s online training and learning hub.\n\nTogether, these efforts enabled us to develop courses that reached more than 6,000 participants in five years – all without additional funding.\n\n### It’s all about people\n\nMy work has focused on ensuring the sustainability of tangible improvements to public finance management that the PFM Programme’s experts helped implement in areas as varied as:\n\n*   distribution of vaccines and educational materials for children;\n*   property tax collection in major cities;\n*   restitution of confiscated funds;\n*   and the fight against “green corruption”.\n\nIn this context, the most valuable asset is our network. I have more than 20,000 contacts on my business phone – all professionals who directly or indirectly contribute to the Programme’s goals, and above all, friends committed to building a better Peru.\n\nThis network generates mutual benefits: it enables the rapid dissemination of good practices, drastically reduces event preparation costs (we secure many venues at zero cost) and ensures massive impact.\n\nColleagues across the Basel Institute are a vital part of this network. Our close collaboration has led me to take part in a wide range of diverse and fascinating projects – from serving as a director and writer for several programme-produced videos, to moderating international events on asset recovery, and exchanging methodologies used in public finance management that can be applied to asset recovery and repatriation.\n\n### The foundation that inspires and sustains hope\n\nThe Peruvian context presents unique challenges. There is high political volatility, evidenced by the fact that there have been eight presidents in the past 10 years despite only two presidential elections in that period. This means that “VUCA” (volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity) and the notion of “chaos” are part of daily life.\n\nYet, beneath this instability lies a “subsoil” of ethically committed public officials and technical professionals who allow progress to continue. They are my daily source of inspiration.\n\nAs I often say: There are more good people than bad – they just make less noise. This reflects a reality: the visible efforts of honest Peruvians provide a stronger foundation than the corruption cases that shake us, even if public perception sometimes suggests otherwise.\n\nIn sum, I am deeply grateful for the privilege of engaging with my country and its challenges through work that strengthens public integrity and the fight against corruption. Thank you, Basel Institute – and its magnificent team around the globe – for allowing me to continue serving the world, and especially my country.\n\n### Inspired?\n\nTake a look at the learning opportunities we offer at the Basel Institute for individuals who are equally passionate about fighting corruption and financial crime:\n\n*   [Basel LEARN](https:\u002F\u002Flearn.baselgovernance.org\u002F) – our online training and learning hub with free eLearning courses and lots more\n*   [Basel STUDY](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fstudy) – our postgraduate programmes on anti-corruption and asset recovery with the University of Basel","2026-01-12","a-career-with-purpose-in-public-finance-management-limberg-chero-2905","A career with purpose in public finance management: Límberg Chero","https:\u002F\u002Fbg24.baselgovernance.org\u002Fcms\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F0c87b8d7-c3ce-4c9f-912f-8bde8973453d?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[148],7801,[150],"Public Finance Management",[19,152,58],"eLearning",[154,156,160,164],{"tags_id":155},{"id":66,"name":67},{"tags_id":157},{"id":158,"name":159},867,"Financial crime",{"tags_id":161},{"id":162,"name":163},1300,"Education",{"tags_id":165},{"id":166,"name":19},1372,2905,[150,24],[19,152,58],[171],1366,[],[],"2026-01-12T11:01:44.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fa-career-with-purpose-in-public-finance-management-limberg-chero-2905",{"id":178,"body":179,"status":6,"type":48,"date":143,"slug":180,"title":181,"image":182,"countries":183,"topic":185,"activity":186,"tags":187,"nid":196,"topics":197,"activities":198,"authors":199,"images":201,"websites":26,"area":26,"programme":26,"language":202,"translations":203,"translation_of":26,"user_created":79,"date_created":204,"user_updated":81,"date_updated":205,"content":206,"link":207},10597,"_Nuestro colega Límberg Chero ha desempeñado un rol importante en la consolidación de la presencia del Basel Institute en Perú. Desde los años previos a la apertura de la oficina en Lima hasta su trabajo actual en el [Programa GFP Subnacional](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.gfpsubnacional.pe\u002F), su trayectoria refleja un profundo compromiso con la integridad pública y la lucha contra la corrupción. Su camino comenzó lejos de la capital, en un pueblo milenario del norte del país, y se fue forjando a través de una rigurosa formación académica y años de servicio público._\n\n_Este artículo forma parte de una serie sobre carreras vinculadas al crimen financiero y sobre las oportunidades de aprendizaje y formación que ofrece el Basel Institute._\n\n### El despegue en Perú\n\nMi camino en el Basel Institute on Governance comenzó antes de que la sede de Lima existiera.\n\nEn el año 2014, junto a varios colegas del Basel Institute, incluyendo a nuestra recordada Directora General durante 20 años, Gretta Fenner, y mi colega Óscar Solórzano, iniciamos la puesta en marcha de un proyecto de finanzas públicas financiado por la Secretaría de Estado para Asuntos Económicos de la Confederación Suiza (SECO).\n\nAunque el núcleo del proyecto era la macroeconomía y la política fiscal, el objetivo esencial era asegurar que el presupuesto público fuera tangible y significativo para la ciudadanía.\n\nEsto nos obligó a trascender los enfoques tradicionales e integrar herramientas innovadoras, tales como las ciencias del comportamiento, para fomentar la integridad y prevenir la corrupción en la gestión de finanzas públicas. Esta visión integral, una novedad en el país en aquella época, fue vital para el éxito de la propuesta.\n\nDesde entonces, el Programa de fortalecimiento de la Gestión Financiera Pública de gobiernos regionales y locales del Perú ha mantenido la confianza de SECO por más de diez años, una longevidad prácticamente inigualable.\n\nEl secreto de este éxito no radica solo en la mejora de procesos o la disciplina fiscal, sino en el trabajo permanente con las personas que impulsan el cambio. Para ello, el Basel Institute cuenta con un equipo multidisciplinario, abierto al cambio y comprometido con crear puentes entre la práctica y la academia.\n\n### Uniendo lenguajes para la sostenibilidad\n\nTrabajar en el Basel Institute on Governance es un verdadero privilegio. Nuestra oficina en Lima ha logrado una notable aceptación regional gracias a un enfoque de trabajo único: práctico, profundo y enfocado en construir relaciones sólidas con actores clave en la lucha contra la corrupción, el lavado de activos y el financiamiento del terrorismo.\n\nActualmente, lidero la Coordinación Interinstitucional del Programa GFP Subnacional. Mi rol busca asegurar la buena marcha y, sobre todo, la sostenibilidad de reformas en los niveles subnacionales, en coordinación con el nivel nacional.\n\nEsto implica un esfuerzo constante por conjugar los lenguajes, cosmovisiones y objetivos completamente diferentes de personas de las distintas regiones del país.\n\nNuestra meta es crear estrategias y mensajes que sean relevantes tanto para un ministerio, un gobierno regional o una municipalidad por igual, para así alinear las agendas técnicas con las políticas, incluyendo tanto a la sociedad civil como a la academia.\n\nEste desafío se facilita gracias a mi origen: provengo de un pueblo milenario del norte del Perú, Monsefú. El ser percibido como alguien cercano, pero que se pudo formar en ambientes académicos y profesionales competitivos, facilita la confianza y legitimidad.\n\n### De la economía a una misión global\n\nDurante mi niñez, salir de mi pueblo parecía imposible. Las universidades estaban en otra ciudad y solo brindaban la oportunidad de seguir alguna carrera local, enfocada en actividades de una economía poco desarrollada y con escasas oportunidades reales. Por ese entonces, el país no tenía la apertura comercial ni el desarrollo empresarial que tiene hoy.\n\nGracias a mucho esfuerzo y la fe de personas anónimas, pude acceder a becas para formarme en ambientes altamente competitivos en Lima, la capital de Perú, a 1.000 kilómetros de mi ciudad natal.\n\nMi base fue sólida: estudié economía como carrera de pregrado y luego me especialicé con el curso de Economía del Banco Central (donde solo entran 30 de entre miles de postulantes) y haciendo una pasantía en el Banco Mundial en Corea.\n\nLuego trabajé con temas de macroeconomía en instituciones como el Ministerio de Economía y Finanzas, el Banco Central de Reserva del Perú, la Comunidad Andina (CAN) y el Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo (BID).\n\nPor ese entonces, mi vida profesional parecía completa: no solo incluía mis actividades profesionales especializadas, sino que también la docencia y la participación en redes internacionales. Por ejemplo, participaba en el Convenio Andrés Bello, que unía a investigadores de universidades de varios países para reflexionar y actuar en temas de integración en Iberoamérica, y en la Red Puentes, que unía esfuerzos en torno a la transparencia de las inversiones de las empresas translatinas.\n\nPero el giro llegó al entender a fondo los megadesafíos globales de la corrupción. Nunca imaginé que mis estudios en economía serían tan solo el punto de partida de una ruta mucho más importante. Desde entonces, mi propósito ha sido volcar toda mi experiencia para fortalecer la lucha contra los flagelos que impiden la prosperidad global.\n\n### Innovando con presupuesto cero\n\nEl Basel Institute en Latinoamérica se caracteriza por su innovación orientada a resultados. Yo mismo soy testigo de cómo cada nueva habilidad encuentra un espacio de aplicación y permite realizar importantes aportes sin requerir de presupuesto adicional.\n\nPor ejemplo, mis maestrías en Innovación de Procesos y Control Gubernamental y en Gerencia Pública y Educación (Andragogía) han sido canalizadas para enriquecer diversas iniciativas:\n\n*   ayudando a gobiernos regionales a realizar cambios estructurales en plazos mucho menores al promedio;\n*   enriqueciendo la [Red de Expertos GFP](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fnews\u002Fswiss-support-public-finance-management-experts-network-peru) del país (iniciativa reconocida en la [Semana Nacional de Innovación de Perú](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fnews\u002Fperus-innovation-week-showcases-training-concept-our-public-finance-management-team)),\n*   reduciendo la deserción a la vez que aumentando el número de aprobados en nuestros cursos de Control Interno e Integridad, gracias a la implementación de \"coffee breaks virtuales\".\n\nDurante la pandemia, aprovechamos mi formación en educación para [potenciar una iniciativa de educación y entrenamiento](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fblog\u002Fhow-design-virtual-training-course-works-your-context-experiences-peru) que permitía llevar cursos y capacitaciones a todo el Perú a través de Facebook. En ese entonces, la red social no cobraba por el uso de datos móviles y permitía el acceso a todos los funcionarios públicos, incluso si solo tenían celulares de gama baja. Ahora, esos cursos se han integrado a [Basel LEARN](https:\u002F\u002Flearn.baselgovernance.org\u002F), la plataforma educativa del Basel Institute.\n\nEn conjunto, logramos implementar cursos que contaron con más de 6.000 alumnos durante cinco años, todo sin usar presupuesto adicional.\n\n### La importancia de las redes de contacto\n\nMi labor ha estado enfocada en asegurar la sostenibilidad de mejoras tangibles desarrolladas por los expertos del Programa GFP en temas tan variados como:\n\n*   la distribución de vacunas y materiales educativos a niños,\n*   la recaudación predial en ciudades principales,\n*   la restitución de fondos decomisados\n*   y la lucha contra la \"corrupción verde\".\n\nEn este contexto, lo más valioso es la red de trabajo. Actualmente, tengo más de 20 mil contactos en mi teléfono, todos profesionales relevantes directa o indirectamente en la actividad del Programa GFP, pero principalmente amigos comprometidos con el ideal de un Perú mejor.\n\nEsta gran red genera beneficios mutuos, ya que permite la difusión de buenas prácticas, reduce drásticamente los costos de preparación de eventos (tenemos muchos locales a costo cero) y asegura un impacto masivo.\n\nLos colegas dentro del mismo Basel Institute son también parte importante de esta red. Nuestra estrecha colaboración me ha llevado a participar en proyectos tan diferentes e interesantes como director y guionista en varios videos producidos por el programa, moderar eventos internacionales de recuperación de activos e intercambiar metodologías usadas en finanzas públicas para la recuperación y repatriación de activos.\n\n### La base que inspira y sostiene la esperanza\n\nEl contexto peruano presenta retos únicos. Hay una alta volatilidad política, evidenciada por el hecho de haber tenido ocho Presidentes en los últimos diez años, cuando en teoría elegimos uno cada cinco años. Esto hace que los entornos “VUCA” (volátiles, inciertos, complejos y ambiguos) y conceptos como “caos” cobren un sentido literal en nuestro día a día.\n\nNo obstante, existe un \"subsuelo\" de funcionarios y técnicos éticamente responsables que permite que el trabajo avance y que me inspira día a día.\n\nComo suelo decir en mis charlas: \"Los buenos somos más, pero hacemos menos bulla.\" Esta frase refleja la realidad: el esfuerzo visible de los peruanos honestos es una buena base que supera en valía a los casos de corrupción que nos golpean, aunque muchas veces la percepción nos diga lo contrario.\n\nEn suma, el privilegio de aproximarme al país y a sus desafíos, implementando temas que sé que aportan al fortalecimiento de la integridad pública y la lucha contra la corrupción, hace que agradezca la oportunidad:\n\nGracias, Basel Institute, gracias a su grandioso equipo en todo el mundo, por la oportunidad de seguir sirviendo al mundo y, especialmente, a mi país.\n\n### ¿Te gustó esta historia?\n\nSi también te interesa o apasiona dedicarte a la lucha contra la corrupción y el crimen financiero, te invitamos a revisar la oferta educativa del Basel Institute:\n\n*   [Basel LEARN](https:\u002F\u002Flearn.baselgovernance.org\u002F): nuestra plataforma de aprendizaje en línea, con cursos virtuales gratuitos y otros recursos\n*   [Basel STUDY](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fstudy): nuestros programas de postgrado en anti-corrupción y recuperación de activos, dictados en conjunto con la Universidad de Basilea","una-carrera-con-proposito-en-gestion-de-finanzas-publicas-limberg-chero-2904","Una carrera con propósito en gestión de finanzas públicas: Límberg Chero","https:\u002F\u002Fbg24.baselgovernance.org\u002Fcms\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002Fa52c7090-9a50-4ebc-88ce-177c6e84f215?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[184],7802,[150],[19,152,58],[188,190,192,194],{"tags_id":189},{"id":66,"name":67},{"tags_id":191},{"id":158,"name":159},{"tags_id":193},{"id":162,"name":163},{"tags_id":195},{"id":166,"name":19},2904,[150,24],[19,152,58],[200],1367,[],"Español",[],"2026-01-12T11:01:46.000Z","2026-06-06T12:19:23.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Funa-carrera-con-proposito-en-gestion-de-finanzas-publicas-limberg-chero-2904",{"id":209,"body":210,"status":6,"type":48,"date":211,"slug":212,"title":213,"image":214,"countries":215,"topic":26,"activity":26,"tags":216,"nid":26,"topics":217,"activities":222,"authors":223,"images":225,"websites":226,"area":227,"programme":230,"language":27,"translations":232,"translation_of":26,"user_created":233,"date_created":234,"user_updated":81,"date_updated":235,"content":236,"link":237},10590,"This feature appears in the 2025 Basel AML Index Public Edition report. \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Findex.baselgovernance.org\u002Fdownloads\">Download the full report and related resources\u003C\u002Fa>.\n\n\u003Cblockquote>\n\u003Ch3>Key takeaways\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Understanding national risks linked to virtual assets is now essential\u003C\u002Fstrong>, as their use has moved from niche to mainstream and is increasingly exploited for financial crime. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Risk assessments are inherently challenging \u003C\u002Fstrong>as (a) virtual assets are borderless by design, (b) large parts of the ecosystem fall outside regulation and (c) reliable national-level data remains limited. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Illicit activity involving virtual assets does not take place in isolation\u003C\u002Fstrong>: offenders exploit the same weaknesses – corruption, fraud, weak supervision and poor enforcement – that already undermine the wider financial system. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>The Basel AML Index provides valuable indicators to assess both a jurisdiction’s structural vulnerabilities and its capacity to counter threats \u003C\u002Fstrong>related to financial crimes in general, including those related to virtual assets, even though it does not include a dedicated virtual assets risk indicator. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fblockquote>\n\n\u003Cem>Note: in this article we use the term virtual assets in line with the FATF’s \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.fatf-gafi.org\u002Fen\u002Ftopics\u002Fvirtual-assets.html\">definition\u003C\u002Fa> of “any digital representation of value that can be digitally traded, transferred or used for payment”. The terms crypto, cryptoassets, digital assets, digital currencies, etc. form part of this loose family, though they are often defined differently in different contexts – a factor that also complicates risk assessments and data analysis.\u003C\u002Fem>\n\n\u003Ch3>\u003Cstrong>Why assessing risks related to virtual assets matters \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\nGovernments and private firms alike are under growing pressure to understand the risks associated with virtual assets. What was once a niche is becoming a mainstream part of financial markets and a common feature in all forms of financial crime.\n\nAs the virtual assets industry continues to mature, national authorities that lack a clear understanding of the risks find themselves on the back foot when drafting legislation, supervising market participants or countering financial crime.\n\nFor financial institutions, a clear picture of jurisdiction-level risk is essential for customer due diligence, transaction monitoring, calibrating controls and taking strategic decisions about where or where not to operate. Financial institutions that misjudge these risks leave themselves exposed to illicit finance, reputational harm and potential regulatory action.\n\n\u003Ch3>Why jurisdiction-level risk assessments are difficult\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\u003Ch4>1. A borderless system by design\u003C\u002Fh4>\n\nUnlike bank accounts or trust funds, virtual asset wallets or addresses do not have a meaningful jurisdictional location. There is no crypto equivalent of “a bank account in Switzerland”. A wallet can be accessed anywhere and may be controlled by a person or entity whose location is unknown or easily obscured. Large parts of the virtual asset ecosystem also fall outside the boundaries of traditional financial regulation. Self-hosted wallets, peer-to-peer transfers, decentralised finance (DeFi) protocols and informal over-the-counter (OTC) brokers create pockets of activity that are largely invisible. Any jurisdiction-level assessment will inevitably be incomplete.\n\nThe activities of virtual asset service providers (VASPs) further complicate matters. A VASP may be established in one jurisdiction while primarily serving customers in another. In the absence of harmonised legislation or cooperation among supervisors, many operate across numerous markets with minimal physical presence or regulatory engagement.\n\n\u003Ch4>2. Data is limited, patchy and uncertain\u003C\u002Fh4>\n\nReliable quantitative data on financial crime risks related to virtual assets at the national level is scarce. In addition to the issue of contrasting definitions and the technology’s borderless nature, several factors contribute to this lack.\n\nFirst, commercial blockchain analytics providers publish broad indicators of virtual asset adoption and estimates of illicit usage. These can be helpful for spotting trends but require careful interpretation. They rely on estimates and proxies, including web traffic to exchanges or intermediaries, and do not provide precise amounts or reliably distinguish licit from illicit activity.\n\nSecond, it is reasonable to assume that where adoption rises, illicit activity will also increase, simply because criminals use the same infrastructure as legitimate users. However, such relationships cannot be measured with confidence.\n\nThird, at the government level, many jurisdictions still lack a coordinated approach across authorities to collect, share and analyse statistics on money laundering and related financial crimes. In many jurisdictions, data on virtual assets is either not gathered consistently or not collected at all.\n\nWithout reliable data on virtual assets usage and risks, national risk assessments may become detached from real-world threats. The result: regulation and supervision that is either insufficient or unnecessarily burdensome.\n\n### How the Basel AML Index can be used\n\nFor the above reasons, the Basel AML Index does not offer a dedicated indicator for virtual assets. Nevertheless, the Index data is still useful because illicit activity involving virtual assets typically exploits the same underlying weaknesses that enable money laundering, corruption, fraud and other financial crimes in the traditional financial system. Where protections against fraud are weak, for example, where supervision is lacking or where enforcement of regulations is inconsistent or politically compromised, opportunities to misuse virtual assets for illegal purposes tend to expand.\n\n\u003Cblockquote>\n\u003Cstrong>Two components of risk \u003C\u002Fstrong>\n\nIn line with the holistic methodology of the Basel AML Index and most AML\u002FCFT risk assessment frameworks, evaluating jurisdiction-level risk related to virtual assets centres on two elements:\n\n\u003Cp>a) \u003Cem>vulnerability \u003C\u002Fem>to the illicit use of virtual assets; and b) \u003Cem>capacity to mitigate \u003C\u002Fem>and respond to these threats. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fblockquote>\n\n### Relevant indicators\n\nThe following graphic highlights indicators of the Basel AML Index that are relevant for assessing either \u003Cem>structural vulnerabilities \u003C\u002Fem>that illicit actors may exploit, or a jurisdiction’s \u003Cem>capacity to counter \u003C\u002Fem>threats. These can be viewed individually in the Expert Edition.\n\n![](https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F7f446525-136f-4018-a322-8a4e8872f23b) *Indicators visible in the Basel AML Index Edition that are particularly relevant to assessing national risks relating to virtual assets.*\n\n\n#### FATF data\n\nUsing the Expert Edition Plus subscription and its quantitative analysis of the latest FATF mutual evaluation and follow-up reports, Basel AML Index users can gain rapid insights into whether a jurisdiction’s AML\u002FCFT framework provides it with the capacity to \u003Cem>counter threats \u003C\u002Fem>related to financial crimes generally, including those involving virtual assets. FATF Recommendations that may be highly relevant for this include:\n\n- R.15 (new technologies)\n- R.16 (payment transparency)\n- R.26 & 27 (regulation and supervision)\n- R.29–31 (law enforcement)\n- R.36–40 (international cooperation)\n\nAn additional useful source of information for jurisdiction-level risk assessments is the FATF’s \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.fatf-gafi.org\u002Fen\u002Fpublications\u002FFatfrecommendations\u002Ftargeted-update-virtual-assets-vasps-2025.html\">\u003Cem>2025 Targeted Update on Implementation of the FATF Standards on Virtual Assets and Virtual Asset Service Providers\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fa>. This report summarises progress in implementing FATF Recommendation 15 by FATF members and additional jurisdictions with materially important global virtual asset activity. “Materially important” refers to the presence of large VASPs (accounting for more than 0.25 percent of global trading) and\u002For a large virtual asset user base.\n\n### Where to start\n\nFor jurisdictions at an early stage of assessing national risks related to virtual assets, the World Bank’s \u003Cem>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fopenknowledge.worldbank.org\u002Fentities\u002Fpublication\u002Fbb5a7475-ac52-4697-afdc-5f618a550623\">AML\u002FCFT National Risk Assessment on Virtual Assets and Virtual Asset Service Providers: Guidance Manual\u003C\u002Fa> \u003C\u002Fem>(published in October 2025) is a strong starting point. It covers both threats and vulnerabilities, as well as the effectiveness of mitigation measures.\n\nAdditional useful resources include:\n- \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002F9crc-crypto-regulation\">\u003Cstrong>Practical recommendations from regulators and supervisors\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fa>, developed at the 9th Global Conference on Criminal Finances and Cryptoassets, on understanding financial crime risks linked to virtual assets and designing effective regulatory and supervisory frameworks.\n- \u003Cstrong>Structured public–private partnerships\u003C\u002Fstrong>, such as the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fefippp.eu\u002F\">Europol Financial Intelligence Sharing Public Private Partnership\u003C\u002Fa>, which offer opportunities to learn from peers and obtain early insights into emerging threats and financial crime typologies involving virtual assets.\n","2025-12-08","assessing-national-risks-related-to-virtual-assets","Assessing national risks related to virtual assets","https:\u002F\u002Fbg24.baselgovernance.org\u002Fcms\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F78f8a1ec-bf8d-469a-ab92-228e79ddd8f2?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[],[],[218,219,220,22,221],"Anti-Money Laundering","Asset Recovery and Enforcement","Business Integrity Ethics and Compliance","Basel AML Index",[221,118],[224],1365,[],[221],[228,229],"Asset Recovery & Enforcement","Business Integrity & Governance",[231],"International Centre for Asset Recovery",[],"545a204d-e41b-4882-afda-481ecf3fd971","2025-12-05T11:43:36.000Z","2026-06-07T10:31:25.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fassessing-national-risks-related-to-virtual-assets",{"id":239,"body":240,"status":6,"type":10,"date":241,"slug":242,"title":243,"image":244,"countries":245,"topic":246,"activity":247,"tags":249,"nid":250,"topics":251,"activities":252,"authors":253,"images":254,"websites":26,"area":26,"programme":26,"language":27,"translations":255,"translation_of":26,"user_created":79,"date_created":256,"user_updated":81,"date_updated":8,"content":257,"link":258},10581,"We are pleased to announce the launch of a special crowdfunding campaign on the day of what would have been Gretta Fenner’s 50th birthday.\n\nThe campaign supports the Gretta Fenner Scholarship Fund, which enables talented individuals from lower-income backgrounds to access our advanced anti-corruption programmes.\n\nYou can [visit and share the campaign page here](https:\u002F\u002Fwhydonate.com\u002Ffundraising\u002Fgretta-fenner-scholarship-fund).\n\n### Gretta’s commitment to education and integrity\n\nOur long-serving and inspiring leader of two decades, [Gretta Fenner](https:\u002F\u002Fgretta.baselgovernance.org\u002F), understood the value and power of education. She invested boldly on behalf of the Basel Institute in [Basel STUDY](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fstudy) – academic programmes with the University of Basel – to help build tomorrow’s leaders in the fight against corruption and financial crime.\n\nGretta was inspired by the people she met in every corner of the world and in every profession during her famously whirlwind travels. She recognised the potential in individuals who showed initiative, talent and the inner fire to pursue impactful careers strengthening governance and transparency and combating corruption and financial crime.\n\nShe wanted to open the door to meaningful education and lifelong learning beyond school or university, beyond short courses, videos and slides.\n\n### Investing in future leaders\n\nAll of us at the Basel Institute share this belief. Each of us can tell a story of how education, peer networks and continuous learning have shaped our careers and opened new opportunities.\n\nThis is why we are asking for your support for the Scholarship Fund named in Gretta’s honour. \n\nThe [Scholarship Fund](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fstudy\u002Fscholarship) supports applicants from lower-income backgrounds who show a strong commitment to anti-corruption, transparency and good governance in their fields or communities. All funds raised go towards these students' tuition fees and, in some cases, travel to Basel for in-person course launch and closing events.\n\n### The Fund’s impact\n\nOne Scholarship recipient starting our first anti-corruption course spoke of his determination to _“…resolve anti-corruption challenges from an African perspective”_, while another shared how _“this prestigious study programme… offers a forum to learn from professionals who are influencing the global conversation on anti-corruption.”_\n\nShe acknowledged:\n\n> _“This educational journey would not have been possible without the support of the Gretta Fenner Scholarship Fund.”_\n\n### How to support\n\nIf education or the generosity of others have ever shaped your life, please consider giving – or inviting others to give – before the year ends.\n\nWith a target of CHF 100,000, we aim to fund up to 20 scholarships in 2026 and help advance Gretta’s vision for global peace, stability and sustainability.\n\nTo donate or share the campaign with your networks, please visit the [Gretta Fenner Scholarship Fund platform](https:\u002F\u002Fwhydonate.com\u002Ffundraising\u002Fgretta-fenner-scholarship-fund).","2025-11-22","launch-of-the-gretta-fenner-scholarship-fund-campaign-changing-lives-through-education-2875","Launch of the Gretta Fenner Scholarship Fund campaign: Changing lives through education","https:\u002F\u002Fbg24.baselgovernance.org\u002Fcms\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F12330f9e-9b30-45fa-8526-a88cc7e84302?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[],[94,14,15],[117,19,248],"Partnerships",[],2875,[219,23,24],[117,19,248],[],[],[],"2025-11-21T17:01:43.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Flaunch-of-the-gretta-fenner-scholarship-fund-campaign-changing-lives-through-education-2875",{"id":260,"body":261,"status":6,"type":48,"date":262,"slug":263,"title":264,"image":265,"countries":266,"topic":268,"activity":269,"tags":270,"nid":279,"topics":280,"activities":281,"authors":282,"images":285,"websites":26,"area":26,"programme":26,"language":27,"translations":286,"translation_of":26,"user_created":79,"date_created":287,"user_updated":81,"date_updated":288,"content":289,"link":290},10572,"Corruption at border points remains a pressing global issue, threatening not only border integrity but also the health, safety and security of our societies. It enables illicit trafficking, facilitates organised crime and undermines trust in public institutions.\n\nIn our _[Working Paper 58](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fpublications\u002Fwp-58)_, Saba Kassa and Jacopo Costa examine how corruption facilitates drug trafficking through the port of Rotterdam.\n\nThrough in-depth interviews with stakeholders, a review of judicial cases and desk research, the paper shows how trafficking and corruption strategies are changing in response to strengthened enforcement at border spaces.\n\nIt contributes to the growing body of work that looks at corruption from a systemic viewpoint, analysing the relationships and adaptive capabilities that allow organised crime to thrive.\n\nThe Working Paper was written as part of the [FALCON](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.falcon-horizon.eu\u002F) (Fight Against Large-scale Corruption and Organised Crime Networks) project. The research supports efforts to develop more robust and forward-looking approaches to combat corruption and drug trafficking.\n\nRead the executive summary below.\n\n### Unintended consequences of strengthened enforcement\n\nThis Working Paper examines how corruption facilitates drug trafficking (specifically cocaine) through the port of Rotterdam, looking at the underlying drivers and strategies involved.\n\nLegal trade routes and commercial ports are especially attractive because of the high volumes of cargo, which make it possible to conceal illicit cargo under licit cargo. The spatial complexity of the port of Rotterdam also makes it difficult to fully secure it against criminal activity.\n\nDigging deeper into the facilitating factors of trafficking, the paper finds that, paradoxically, a main driver of rising border corruption is the increased political attention on and resources dedicated to fighting trafficking.\n\nDesk research and stakeholder interviews highlight that as authorities deploy new technology to improve detection, traffickers face more obstacles to operating effectively.\n\nHaving someone on the inside then becomes increasingly important. So, an unintended but important consequence of the strengthened fight against drug trafficking is that corruption becomes even more essential for the operational success of organised crime networks.\n\n### Customs officials are specifically vulnerable\n\nThis study focuses specifically on the role of customs. Tasked with monitoring the import and export of goods, customs officers are important actors in the fight against drug trafficking. However, their role also makes them vulnerable: they have crucial knowledge on processes and procedures, access to systems and discretionary power that can be exploited by criminals.\n\nThe desk research shows that corruption is used strategically to circumvent two important bottlenecks: the container screening and security as cargo enters the port, and the exit of drugs from the port. Traffickers may seek to obtain key information or direct assistance from customs officers.\n\n### Collusion – coercion – infiltration\n\nThese corrupt relationships and the emerging networks between members of crime groups and the customs officials are diverse. Some relationships can be characterised by collusion, where customs officials offer their services or are persuaded to cooperate. This collusion may be opportunistic or targeted.\n\nOther relationships can be characterised by coercion. Customs officials may be lured by financial reward, but this is accompanied by intimidation or the threat of violence to ensure that the officer cooperates and continues to cooperate. Our research highlights that the boundary between collusion and coercion is often blurred.\n\nBeyond collusion and coercion, we also see infiltration, which crosses the boundaries between the criminal, public and private. What emerges is less a matter of individual corruption and more akin to regulatory capture, where the public office position is held by a member of the criminal network.\n\nThe review of the judicial cases shows that bribes involved in these schemes can amount to millions. To hide and use the illicit gains, traffickers rely on money laundering, disguising its source as legitimate. They often enlist the help of family and friends, a trusted inner circle or professional specialists. They may also hide cash at home or invest it in assets and businesses in the Netherlands or abroad.\n\n### Adaptive corruption strategies\n\nA key finding of our research is that the criminal and corruption strategies used to facilitate drug trafficking are highly adaptive. The underlying driver of this adaptability is the unchanging demand for drugs and high profitability of the crime. This pushes traffickers to adopt new strategies to overcome hurdles in supplying the demand.\n\nCorruption strategies adapt in response to new enforcement measures. When control systems are changed and\u002For strengthened, corruption strategies evolve alongside them. This research identifies some key patterns:\n\n*   Stronger detection efforts increase the incentives for corruption.\n*   Evolving systems encourage a similar shift in corruption strategies.\n*   Anti-corruption and anti-trafficking measures may change the profile of those most vulnerable to being co-opted.\n*   The characteristics of corruption can also evolve, from collusion to coercion, to full infiltration of institutions and systems – with blurred lines in between.\n\n### Trafficking strategies evolve, too\n\nTrafficking strategies are similarly adaptive. There have been increased efforts by the port to combat trafficking through enhanced detection and technology. This was initially reflected by increased drug seizures. But since 2024, drugs seizures have declined.\n\nThe research findings provide an explanation for this: As detection strengthens, more drug seizures are made. But what may happen, too, is a response to these new measures. As the risk of detection increases, criminals may adapt their trafficking strategies to overcome the additional hurdles, including:\n\n*   changing concealment strategies; and\n*   changing modes of transport and trafficking routes, including to ports outside of the Netherlands.\n\n### Red flags and risk indicators\n\nThese developments highlight the complexity in understanding the impact of stronger anti-trafficking measures on both corruption and trafficking strategies.\n\nTrafficking and corruption are typically measured by detection, for example, by changes in the volume of drug seizures or the number of public officials caught engaging in corruption.\n\nBut the elephant in the room is that increasingly sophisticated criminal strategies can hide what is really happening. This underscores the need to continuously strengthen our ability to recognise “red flags” of corruption and trafficking. Data-driven tools and refined risk indicators are critical for understanding how crime and corruption strategies are changing.\n\n### A holistic understanding and improved foresight\n\nThe evolving nature of criminal strategies is often likened to a game of chess: enforcement makes a move, and criminal networks adapt. But what now seems to be emerging is more troubling.\n\nWhen barriers to drug trafficking increase while demand remains unchanged, crime and corruption strategies adapt in ways that can deepen their impact on society, leading for example to the hardening of crime and associated violence.\n\nThis makes anticipating how crime may adapt to changing anti-corruption and anti-trafficking strategies critical. Improved foresight and scenario-building capacities will be vital in order to develop more robust enforcement efforts against drug trafficking and mitigate the negative impact on society.\n\nA holistic approach is essential. Addressing corruption as a facilitator of drug trafficking requires a broad view of crime that focuses on understanding vulnerabilities, leveraging data and harnessing collaboration.\n\nThe risk of trafficking routes changing are high, therefore, we must use every tool at our disposal to ensure effective and sustainable enforcement efforts.\n\n### Learn more\n\n*   Download the full _[Working Paper 58: Corruption as a facilitator of drug trafficking in the port of Rotterdam: Drivers, strategies and implications](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fpublications\u002Fwp-58)_\n*   View related online workshop for enforcement and research communities: _[Red flags at the frontier: detecting and disrupting border corruption in the EU](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fnode\u002F2844)_, 23 September 2025\n\n### _Acknowledgement and disclaimer_\n\n_FALCON is funded under the European Union’s Horizon Europe Framework Program Grant Agreement ID 101121281. The Basel Institute on Governance, as an associated partner without the right to receive funds directly from the European Research Executive Agency, has received funding from the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI). The contents of the Working Paper are the sole responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union, the European Research Executive Agency or SERI._","2025-09-11","how-corruption-helps-drug-traffickers-adapt-to-strengthened-border-enforcement-2848","How corruption helps drug traffickers adapt to strengthened border enforcement","https:\u002F\u002Fbg24.baselgovernance.org\u002Fcms\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F13171c8d-1c71-4c6a-9688-3c1ff7b9775a?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[267],7796,[14,15],[118,58],[271,275,277],{"tags_id":272},{"id":273,"name":274},967,"Organised crime",{"tags_id":276},{"id":62,"name":63},{"tags_id":278},{"id":70,"name":71},2848,[23],[118,58],[283,284],1355,1356,[],[],"2025-09-11T16:01:34.000Z","2026-05-07T21:29:57.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fhow-corruption-helps-drug-traffickers-adapt-to-strengthened-border-enforcement-2848",{"id":292,"body":293,"status":6,"type":10,"date":294,"slug":295,"title":296,"image":297,"countries":298,"topic":302,"activity":303,"tags":304,"nid":305,"topics":306,"activities":307,"authors":308,"images":310,"websites":26,"area":26,"programme":26,"language":27,"translations":311,"translation_of":26,"user_created":79,"date_created":312,"user_updated":81,"date_updated":8,"content":313,"link":314},10566,"A major blockage in financial crime cases lies in the space between intelligence and investigations. All too often, crucial financial intelligence from Financial Intelligence Units isn’t used effectively to trigger or advance investigations.\n\nOne reason lies in the quality of the financial intelligence reports themselves, which may not match what investigators and prosecutors need. A related reason lies in poor cooperation between different agencies involved in the fight against financial crime.\n\nThis blockage is a recurring challenge highlighted in evaluations of the effectiveness of countries’ frameworks for anti-money laundering and counter-financing of terrorism (AML\u002FCFT) conducted by the [Financial Action Task Force (FATF)](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.fatf-gafi.org\u002Fen\u002Ftopics\u002Fmutual-evaluations.html). Many countries perform relatively well on Immediate Outcome 6 (IO6), an indicator that measures the effective generation and use of financial intelligence. However, the real difficulty lies in converting this into effective investigations (IO7) and the confiscation of assets (IO8), where scores are consistently lower.\n\n### Training to bridge the gap\n\nAdvanced Operational Analysis training, which [the training team](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fasset-recovery\u002Ftraining-programmes) of the Basel Institute’s International Centre for Asset Recovery (ICAR) conducts for government agencies around the world, is specifically designed to bridge this gap.\n\nBetween May and July 2025, our training team delivered Advanced Operational Analysis training in Mozambique, Ecuador and Tanzania. The intensive week-long workshops brought together Financial Intelligence Unit analysts, investigators, prosecutors and other relevant practitioners in each country.\n\nThe objective was to enhance the generation of financial intelligence that officers in investigation and prosecution agencies can act upon. The ultimate goal: successful money laundering investigations and the recovery of illicit assets.\n\n### Transforming intelligence into operational leads\n\nThe Advanced Operational Analysis training combines our eLearning module on [Operational Analysis of Suspicious Transaction Reports](https:\u002F\u002Flearn.baselgovernance.org\u002Fcourse\u002Fview.php?id=3) with an extensive, instructor-led country-specific component. Participants work through a complex and realistic simulated case involving:\n\n*   Shell companies and offshore structures;\n*   Intricate and large volume of financial data\n*   Blockchain transactions and the tracing of virtual assets;\n*   Cross-border elements and international cooperation mechanisms.\n\nThey plan and collect relevant information using the _intelligence cycle,_ as outlined in the eLearning course. After analysing it, they present it in a format that helps investigative or prosecutorial authorities identify indicators of possible predicate and money laundering offences as well as proceeds of crime. The authorities must then corroborate this intelligence and convert into evidence. In this way, intelligence is transformed into operational leads.\n\nIn Tanzania, participants stressed its immediate relevance:\n\n> The course is very good and relevant to daily work. It helps in analysing financial information and preparing intelligence reports that can be used by investigators and prosecutors.\n\n> I learned how to collect, process, and present financial intelligence in a way that supports investigations of money laundering and other financial crimes.\n\n### Fostering cooperation between agencies\n\nA key objective of the Advanced Operational Analysis programme is to strengthen cooperation among the diverse actors in the fight against financial crime, from Financial Intelligence Units and prosecutors to law enforcement agencies and even compliance officers from commercial banks.\n\nIn Mozambique, participants highlighted the benefits of this joint approach:\n\n> The course allowed us to engage with professionals from other agencies. It helped clarify how different institutions can collaborate and use financial intelligence more effectively.\n\nOthers noted how the practical group exercise mirrored real inter-agency dynamics:\n\n> The methodology, especially the teamwork component, reflects how we should be working in real life — analysts, investigators, and prosecutors together.\n\n### Putting knowledge into practice\n\nAcross all three countries, participants described the course as directly applicable. The blend of theory, tools and simulated investigation work gave them the confidence to apply new skills immediately.\n\nOne participant in Ecuador reflected:\n\n> The practical case helped us think like investigators and apply analytical techniques in a structured way.\n\nParticipants particularly valued the exposure to diverse methods of gathering and analysing financial data. These elements came together in the simulated case that integrated automated tools such as database and OSINT search, along with AI-powered interview simulations.\n\nBy working in a setting that closely mirrored reality, participants were able to visualise how these skills could be applied in their daily work.\n\n### Positive signs\n\nThe training programmes in Mozambique and Tanzania were delivered as part of the Basel Institute’s country programmes, with support from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).\n\nBoth countries made significant progress in strengthening the effectiveness of their AML\u002FCFT systems: the FATF confirmed Tanzania’s exit from its grey list of jurisdictions subject to increased monitoring in June 2025, while Mozambique’s Financial Intelligence Unit (GiFIM) joined the Egmont Group of Financial Intelligence Units in July 2025.\n\n### Learn more\n\n*   View ICAR’s [training programmes on financial investigations and asset recovery](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fasset-recovery\u002Ftraining-programmes) for government agencies.\n*   Interested in learning opportunities as an individual? Check out our [free eLearning courses](https:\u002F\u002Flearn.baselgovernance.org\u002F) and our new advanced study programme with the University of Basel on [Combating Financial Crime Through Asset Recovery](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Flearning\u002Fbasel-study\u002Fcas-asset-recovery).\n*   The [Expert Edition Plus service of our Basel AML Index](https:\u002F\u002Findex.baselgovernance.org\u002Fexpert-edition) – a widely used country index and risk assessment tool for money laundering and related financial crimes – allows users to view countries’ individual performance under the FATF’s Recommendations and Immediate Outcomes. Subscription is free for public-sector and non-profit organisations.","2025-08-21","bridging-intelligence-and-investigations-advanced-operational-analysis-training-2842","Bridging intelligence and investigations: Advanced Operational Analysis training","https:\u002F\u002Fbg24.baselgovernance.org\u002Fcms\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F44a89ec3-2bdc-464e-9101-043560e20a2c?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[299,300,301],7788,7789,7790,[94],[19],[],2842,[219,24],[19],[309],1348,[],[],"2025-08-21T23:47:59.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fbridging-intelligence-and-investigations-advanced-operational-analysis-training-2842",{"left":316,"top":316,"width":317,"height":317,"rotate":316,"vFlip":318,"hFlip":318,"body":319},0,20,false,"\u003Cpath fill=\"currentColor\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M17 10a.75.75 0 0 1-.75.75H5.612l4.158 3.96a.75.75 0 1 1-1.04 1.08l-5.5-5.25a.75.75 0 0 1 0-1.08l5.5-5.25a.75.75 0 1 1 1.04 1.08L5.612 9.25H16.25A.75.75 0 0 1 17 10\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\"\u002F>",1780868840886]