The UK government stated in 2024 that as much as 40% of the world’s dirty money flows through London - totalling hundreds of billions of dollars and making it the global capital for money and reputation laundering. This has devastating consequences for countries around the world while also damaging the economy, democracy and rule of law in the UK.

The extensive use of complex financial systems and opaque structures to enable corruption and transnational kleptocracy - and especially the UK’s role in facilitating this - is one of our specialisms. This is an area where systemic complexity and spheres of influence play a significant role in maintaining the status quo.

Building on momentum from our previous work (see especially our Agents of Secrecy, Seychelles Secrets, Pandora Papers and Baby Broker projects), we are working on a series of collaborative investigations bringing together thematic and geographic expertise to expose suspected corruption and/or money laundering involving the UK.

The focus of our reporting is often on the role played by the UK-focused enabler industries on whom foreign corrupt officials, kleptocrats, organised crime groups and other criminals depend. Our findings play an important role as the evidential bedrock for policy reform and wider advocacy work so, increasingly, we take a proactive approach to ensuring our work has an impact beyond publication. We consult with advocacy and campaigning organisations, including members of the Illicit Finance Working Group who play a leading role in coordinating civil society efforts to stop the flow of dirty money through the UK.