Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project

Investigative Reporting Is Free Speech, Not ‘Treason’ I wrote a story that was cited by a whistleblower complaint that led to Donald Trump’s first impeachment. Now, it’s being used to attack foreign aid and the free press as part of a conspiracy theory. ...

To understand the sheer absurdity of this claim, read our feature on how OCCRP’s journalism was pulled into the epicenter of this wild and dangerous conspiracy theory.
www.occrp.org/en/feature/i...

Last year, Benz pushed an online conspiracy theory alleging OCCRP was part of a “deep state” operation working with USAID to undermine President Donald Trump during his first administration.

In his latest episode on the gutting of USAID, #JohnOliver singled out far-right activist Mike Benz as a key architect pushing for the dismantling of the agency — labeling him “a chronically online lunatic” whose lies about USAID were amplified by Elon Musk: www.youtube.com/watch?v=tU8S...

As he put it: “I'm sure they're gonna want to try and spin their work destroying USAID into something a lot more palatable, but we cannot let them do that. The very least we can do going forward is to remember what they f*cking did.”

We could not agree more.

In response to the funding freeze, OCCRP joined a lawsuit against the Trump administration, winning damages for completed projects.

Oliver blasted the Trump administration for gutting the agency — a pillar of humanitarian relief — and creating a "man-made disaster."

USAID: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO) John Oliver discusses the United States Agency for International Development, why the Trump Administration has gutted it, who is being impacted, and how the Cha Cha Slide can help us get to the…

It’s been a year since the dismantling of USAID. In a deep dive into the fallout, #JohnOliver examines the devastating consequences: what was lost, why it happened, and who is responsible.

Among the many things USAID supported was investigative journalism, including OCCRP: buff.ly/z9uGasM

U.S. and Halkbank Reach Deal to End Long-Running Iran Sanctions Case The Turkish state-owned lender will not admit wrongdoing or pay penalties but must submit to a review by an independent compliance firm, closing a high-stakes geopolitical dispute.

The Turkish state-owned lender will not admit wrongdoing or pay penalties but must submit to a review by an independent compliance firm, closing a high-stakes geopolitical dispute.

www.occrp.org/en/news/us-a...

Kyrgyz High Court Overturns Six-Year Sentence for Anti-Corruption Reporter Makhabat Tazhibek kyzy, the final journalist remaining behind bars following a widely condemned 2024 raid on the Temirov Live newsroom, will face a new trial following mounting international outcry.

Kyrgyz High Court Overturns Six-Year Sentence for Anti-Corruption Reporter

www.occrp.org/en/news/kyrg...

Malaysia Smashes Cross-Border Scam Ring, Deports 16 to China Related Reporting

Malaysia Smashes Cross-Border Scam Ring, Deports 16 to China

www.occrp.org/en/news/mala...

From Wagner to GRU, Russian Military Men Are Manning Moscow’s Shadow Fleet Cargo ships transporting sanctioned Russian oil through the Baltic Sea are routinely setting sail with two extra crew on board: a pair of Russian men with backgrounds in security organizations.

NEW INVESTIGATION: Cargo ships transporting sanctioned Russian oil through the Baltic Sea are routinely setting sail with two extra crew on board: a pair of Russian men with backgrounds in security organizations.

buff.ly/lSMzfVR

Russian Man on U.K.’s Most Wanted List Holds Maltese ‘Golden Passport’ British authorities allege that Alexander Kuksov, a Russian with Maltese citizenship, was part of a major money laundering operation. His brother was convicted for his role in the same network.

British authorities allege that Alexander Kuksov, a Russian with Maltese citizenship, was part of a major money laundering operation. His brother was convicted for his role in the same network.

www.occrp.org/en/news/russ...

Belarusian Businessman Claims Former Cyprus President’s Family Held Firms For Him Belarusian businessman Yury Chyzh claims he was behind the nominally-owned Cypriot companies that continued to operate while he was sanctioned.

Belarusian businessman Yury Chyzh claims he was behind the nominally-owned Cypriot companies that continued to operate while he was sanctioned.

www.occrp.org/en/scoop/bel...

Apparent Affiliate of Danish Company Helps Russians Export Grain From Occupied Ukraine Russian companies are shipping pillaged grain out of occupied Ukrainian ports. The apparent affiliate of a major Danish shipping inspection company, Baltic Control, is being paid to assist.

The collaborative investigation “Pirates of the Azov Sea” has been shortlisted for the 2026 Sigma Awards. The story details how Russia’s occupation of two Ukrainian ports on the Sea of Azov enabled the export of pillaged Ukrainian grain.
Read our story here: www.occrp.org/en/investiga...

Conflict-Tainted Venezuelan Gold Entered World Market Through Caribbean Island, Documents Indicate The Caribbean island of Curaçao has no natural gold deposits. So why did dozens of tons of gold refined at a prestigious Swiss refinery come from the island? The evidence points to their origin in conflict...

Conflict-Tainted Venezuelan Gold Entered World Market Through Caribbean Island, Documents Indicate

www.occrp.org/en/investiga...

Sanctioned Alleged Member of 'Criminal' Conglomerate Bought $17 Million in London Properties Before he was sanctioned for his alleged involvement in the Prince Group's sprawling scam operations, Yang Jian scooped up 12 adjoining houses and space for 17 cars in London.

Before he was sanctioned for his alleged involvement in the Prince Group's sprawling scam operations, Yang Jian scooped up 12 adjoining houses and space for 17 cars in London.

More Than 1,100 Ships Hit by Widespread GPS Disruption After Iran Strikes After identifying more than a thousand instances of GPS and AIS spoofing, Windward warns that these false location signals create serious navigational hazards, including higher collision risk, in what...

More Than 1,100 Ships Hit by Widespread GPS Disruption After Iran Strikes

www.occrp.org/en/news/more...

Paraguayan Senator Convicted of Aiding International Cocaine Trafficker A Paraguayan senator was convicted of aiding a fugitive drug trafficker’s cocaine network, fueling allegations of political corruption and international organized crime.

A Paraguayan senator was convicted of aiding a fugitive drug trafficker’s cocaine network, fueling allegations of political corruption and international organized crime.

www.occrp.org/en/news/para...

Ukraine Says Russia Recruited 24,000 Foreign Fighters, About Half From Asia Ukraine's agency dealing with prisoners of war says it holds citizens from 44 countries who were recruited to fight for Russia.

Ukraine's agency dealing with prisoners of war says it holds citizens from 44 countries who were recruited to fight for Russia.

www.occrp.org/en/news/ukra...

Some investigations are still ongoing. In July 2025, we reported that Spanish police arrested Dmitry Artyakov, son of a top Russian defense official, for allegedly laundering millions through luxury real estate purchases in Girona using funds linked to the Troika Laundromat scheme: buff.ly/gQabaEG

Bank Records Link President of Cyprus to ‘Troika Laundromat’ A law firm Nicos Anastasiades founded — and left just before assuming the presidency — moved millions of dollars among shell companies that were deeply entwined with the secretive global money…

The Troika Laundromat project also revealed that the law firm founded by former Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades moved millions of dollars among shell companies that were deeply entwined with the secretive global money transfer system. buff.ly/RbDuRfR

Sergei Roldugin — a Russian cellist and childhood friend of Vladimir Putin — received at least $69 million from Troika Laundromat companies: buff.ly/X7FCYoM

The Troika Laundromat was operated by what was once Russia's largest private investment bank, Troika Dialog — now a part of Russia’s biggest state-owned bank, Sberbank.

It allowed Russian oligarchs and politicians to secretly buy shares in state-owned companies, real estate, luxury yachts, etc.

Today marks 7 years since OCCRP and partners published our Troika Laundromat investigation.

It revealed an all-purpose financial fraud vehicle consisting of at least 75 offshore shell companies whose controllers used them to move billions of dollars from Russia to the West. buff.ly/4MlZux5

TOMORROW: Researchers are faced with an abundance of data that can illuminate the shadowy worlds of illicit finance, organized crime & corruption. Join the Illicit Finance Data Lab and GI ACE for a webinar that discusses ways to navigate these complex datasets.
Register here: buff.ly/k9VVT2x

Taiwan and Singapore Add to Growing Action Against Alleged Cambodian Crime Group Related Reporting

Taiwan and Singapore Add to Growing Action Against Alleged Cambodian Crime Group

www.occrp.org/en/news/taiw...

U.K. Lifts Sanctions on British Financier Tied to Russia’s Shadow Fleet A British financier has been removed from the U.K. sanctions list after warning others that even lawful dealings can entangle them in sanctions while condemning Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.

A British financier has been removed from the U.K. sanctions list after warning others that even lawful dealings can entangle them in sanctions while condemning Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.

www.occrp.org/en/news/uk-l...

Georgia Tightens Control Over Foreign Funding for NGOs and Media By broadening the definition of foreign grants to include any support intended to ‘influence’ policy, Georgia’s new bill places the country’s entire civil society and independent media at immediate...

Georgia Tightens Control Over Foreign Funding for NGOs and Media

www.occrp.org/en/news/geor...

Tunisia Jails Ex Prime Minister and Billionaire in Major Corruption Ruling As Tunisia’s judiciary hands down multi-year sentences to former ministers, those convicted are labeling the anti-corruption move as a targeted political campaign.

As Tunisia’s judiciary hands down multi-year sentences to former ministers, those convicted are labeling the anti-corruption move as a targeted political campaign.

www.occrp.org/en/news/tuni...

The Cat and the Stock-Footage CEO: How a Digital Trail Helped Unmask an Iranian Money Machine A woman named Elizabeth Newman supposedly runs two U.K.-registered crypto exchanges. But she appears to be a corporate fiction used as a front for a convicted embezzler whom the United States has accu...

Learn more in our new story The Cat and the Stock-Footage CEO: How a Digital Trail Helped Unmask an Iranian Money Machine: www.occrp.org/en/investiga...

You’ve heard of OSINT — but what about CATINT? A photo of a cat posted on a crypto exchange’s Telegram channel helped us uncover new proof about who was behind it — an Iranian financier sanctioned for providing financial backing for the Iranian regime.