Handbook on new forms of, and risk factors for, high-level transnational corruption schemes

Corruption, especially high-level corruption, poses significant challenges for both political governance and societal well-being across the globe. High-level corruption is an umbrella term that encompasses a broad spectrum of illicit activities and involves the abuse of power at the public’s expense, either for personal or group gain. This phenomenon is not only a domestic issue but rather is increasingly a transnational one, insofar as it involves complex networks that exploit corporate vehicles and cross-border transactions to both launder the proceeds from illicit activities and obscure the identities of those involved. In recent years, the European Union (EU) has intensified its efforts to combat high-level transnational corruption. However, significant gaps remain with respect to understanding the specific methods and mechanisms employed within these illicit activities. Consequently, there is an urgent need for a detailed examination of precisely how these corrupt practices are carried out, particularly in relation to the misuse of corporate vehicles and the transnational dimensions of corruption. This report aims to address these gaps by analysing 42 high-level corruption cases from around the world, with a particular focus on their modus operandi, those sectors that are most at risk, the role of intermediaries and corporate structures in facilitating corruption, and their transnational nature.