Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project

Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project
Name	Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project
Founded	0 2006
Founders	Drew Sullivan, Paul Radu
Headquarters	Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Key people	Miranda Patrucic, Stevan Dojčinović
Focus	Investigative journalism, Organized crime, Political corruption
Website	https://www.occrp.org/

Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project. It is a global investigative reporting network established to expose transnational crime and corruption through collaborative journalism. Founded by journalists Drew Sullivan and Paul Radu, the organization coordinates a consortium of non-governmental organizations and independent media outlets across dozens of countries. Its work has led to high-profile resignations, asset seizures, and policy reforms worldwide, establishing it as a leading force in accountability reporting.

History and founding

The organization was conceived in 2006 by American journalist Drew Sullivan and Romanian journalist Paul Radu, who met while working on cross-border corruption stories in Southeastern Europe. They formally launched the project with initial support from the Center for International Media Assistance and the National Endowment for Democracy. Early operations were based in Romania and focused on the Balkans, investigating networks like the infamous Kilo group in Montenegro. A pivotal early tool was the development of the Visual Investigative Scenarios platform, which allowed journalists to map complex relationships between criminals, oligarchs, and politicians.

Mission and objectives

Its core mission is to equip and mobilize a global network of reporters to produce hard-hitting investigations into criminal syndicates and corrupt power structures. Key objectives include developing innovative data-driven methodologies, building secure digital infrastructure for collaborative reporting, and providing intensive training through its OCCRP Academy. The project aims to create systemic impact by triggering official investigations by bodies like the United States Department of Justice and the European Anti-Fraud Office, and by strengthening regional media hubs such as the Arab Reporters for Investigative Journalism network.

Notable investigations and impact

The consortium is renowned for landmark exposés like the Panama Papers, a collaboration with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists and Süddeutsche Zeitung, which revealed offshore secrets of global elites. Its Azerbaijani Laundromat investigation detailed a massive money-laundering scheme that implicated figures in Council of Europe. The Troika Laundromat probe exposed financial pipelines from Russia to the West, while the Kharon project uncovered security risks in global finance. These reports have prompted arrests, including in Malta following the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia, and sanctions from the United States Treasury Department.

Organizational structure and network

Headquartered in Sarajevo, the project operates as a decentralized network, with major regional centers and member organizations worldwide. Key operational units include the OCCRP ID desk, which verifies identities of subjects, and the OCCRP Aleph data platform, a vast repository of leaked documents. Its network encompasses over 50 partners, including RISE Project in Romania, Bellingcat in the Netherlands, KRIK in Serbia, and The Center for Investigative Reporting in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Editorial leadership involves seasoned investigators like Miranda Patrucic and Stevan Dojčinović.

Funding and partnerships

The project is funded by a diverse array of international foundations, governments, and private donors committed to media freedom. Major supporters include the Open Society Foundations, the United States Agency for International Development, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, and the National Endowment for Democracy. It maintains strategic partnerships with institutions like the Google News Initiative for technology development and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development for policy advocacy. Funding is directed toward investigative grants, digital security for reporters, and legal defense.

Awards and recognition

The network and its journalists have received numerous prestigious accolades, including the European Press Prize, the Global Shining Light Award, and the Daniel Pearl Award. Individual staff, such as Paul Radu, have been honored with the Knight International Journalism Award. Its collaborative work on the Panama Papers was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Explanatory Reporting. The project's methodology and impact have been cited in studies by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and recognized by the Committee to Protect Journalists.

Category:Investigative journalism organizations Category:Anti-corruption organizations Category:International organizations based in Europe Category:Organizations established in 2006